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MEMOIR  OF 

MRS.  J.  GREENLEAF 


UNIVERSITY 


W.G.  Sfatvpf  tith.  B 


MEMOIE 


MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF, 


NEWBTJRYPORT,  MASS. 


"And  she  was  a  widow  of  about  fourscore  and  four  years, 
which  departed  not  from  the  temple,  but  ?erved  God  with  fast- 
ings and  prayers  night  and  day."  LUKE  u.  37. 


UNIVERSITY 


fPOKT  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  MOSES  H.  SARGENT. 
1851. 


y 


• 
Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1801, 

BY  MOSES  II.  SARGENT, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of 
Massachusetts. 


Printed  by  GEORGE  C.  RAND, 
3  Cornhill,  Boston. 


PREFACE. 


THESE  pages  had  an  humble  origin.  A 
daughter's  hand  has  penned  them  amidst  many 
avocations ;  yet  not  at  her  own  suggestion. 
Friends,  who  honored  her  mother,  desired  that 
her  religious  history  might  be  preserved ;  and 
there  was  no  one  else  in  circumstances  to  under- 
take the  work.  In  deciding  to  do  it,  she  relied 
upon  important  aid  from  her  brother  ;  but  he  was 
suddenly  removed  to  the  eternal  world,  leaving 
only  an  unfinished  fragment  for  her  use.  A  few 
friends  have  assisted  her  in  revising  it ;  their 
kindness  she  gratefully  acknowledges. 

She  now  casts  "  her  bread  upon  the  waters," 
praying  for  the  Divine  blessing.  To  her  it  will 
not,  probably,  return  in  temporal  profit.  To  the 


8  PREFACE. 

• 

Christian  public  the  work  is  respectfully  inscribed, 
with  all  its  defects.  They  will,  at  least,  see  from 
it  that  in  the  life  of  a  retired  Christian,  there  may 
be  materials  for  a  memoir,  though  they  may 
regret  that  a  skilful  hand  could  not  have  collected 
and  arranged  them. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Object  of   Publishing.      God's  faithfulness   to  his 
Covenant.    Pious  Ancestors,        -----    13 


CHAPTER  II. 

Birth.  Religious  Instruction.  Early  Impressions. 
Worldliness.  Deaths  in  the  Family.  Permanent  Im- 
pressions. Distressing  Convictions.  Marriage.  Bap- 
tism of  her  Son.  Conversation  of  a  Friend.  Christ- 
ian Hope.  Public  Profession,  -----  20 


CHAPTER  III. 

Extract  from  Hamilton.  Punctuality  in  Prayer. 
Trials.  Severe  Illness.  Recovery.  Deafness.  Inci- 
dent in  Boston's  Life.  Farther  Trials.  Incident.  Ex- 
tracts from  a  Sermon.  Bereavements.  Journal.  -  24 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Efforts  for  her  Children  and  Household.  Firm  hold 
of  the  Covenant.  Effects  of  her  Father's  Death.  In- 
tercession. Activity.  Religious  Conversation.  Be- 
nevolent Spirit.  Journal,  ------  38 

9 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    V. 

Desire  for  the  Extension  of  Christ's  Kingdom.  In- 
terest in  Revivals.  Revival  in  1800  and  1801.  Inci- 
dent. Letter.  Missionary  Spirit.  "  Isles  of  Shoals." 
Letter.  Walk  of  Usefulness.  Letters,  ...  4V 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Letters,      ........  63 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Answer  to  Prayer.  Succeeding  Emotions.  Manner 
of  expressing  her  Gratitude.  Confidence  in  God. 
Family  Government.  Strict  Observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath. Journal.  Letter,  ------  81 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Letter  from  R.  Ralston,  Esq.    Love  for  Christians. 
Charity.    Letter  to  Mrs.  P.     Other  Letters,         -        -    90 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Consistency.  Benefit  of  her  Example.  Faithful- 
ness. Cheerfulness.  Incident.  Forgiveness  of  Inju- 
ries. Change  of  Residence.  Improved  Health.  Loss 
of  Sight.  Love  to  God's  House.  Journal.  Letters,  -  110 


CHAPTER   X. 

• 

Closing  Years.  Continued  Industry.  Sickness  in 
1845.  Letters.  Death  of  her  Brother.  Last  Illness. 
Death.  Divine  Faithfulness.  Funeral,  -  124 


CONTENTS.  11 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Summary  of  Doctrinal  Belief,  and  Traits  of  Char- 
acter,   ----------137 


CHAPTER    XII. 
Letters  from  Friends,        -.--..  146 


APPENDIX. 

No.  I.    Notice  of  W.  C.  Greenleaf,          -       -        -  153 
No.  II.    Isles  of  Shoal?,   -       -       -       -       -       -  170 


:$EUBS5x 

OF  THE 

[UNIVERSITY 


MEMOIR 


MRS.   JANE    GREENLEAF. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  The  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  upon 
them  that  fear  him,  and  his  righteousness  unto  children's 
children ;  to  such  as  keep  his  covenant,  and  to  those  that 
remember  his  commandments  to  do  them."— Ps.  ciii.  17, 18. 

THE  following  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Jane  Grreenleaf 
is  not  a  tribute  of  affection  merely ;  nor  was  it 
undertaken  from  any  private  motive.  The  object 
in  view  has  been  solely  to  magnify  the  grace  of 
God,  which  made  her  "a  burning  and  shining 
light "  in  the  world  ;  to  exhibit,  for  the  imitation 
of  others,  her  example  of  active  and  uniform  piety ; 
and  to  show  the  faithfulness  of  Grod  to  His  cove- 
nant with  his  people.  It  is  now  committed  to  the 
public,  in  the  hope  that,  in  this  way,  however 
humble  and  unpretending  in  itself,  it  may  do 
2 


14  MEMOIR   OP 

some  good.  To  the  memoirs  of  the  pious  dead, 
whether  in  the  public  or  private  walks  of  life,  has 
the  church  been  largely  indebted  for  much  of  her 
piety  in  subsequent  times.  Who  has  not  been 
improved  by  reading  such  memoirs  as  those  of 
Mrs.  Graham,  Mrs.  Huntingdon,  Mrs.  Newell, 
and  many  others  ?  To  a  level  with  these,  how- 
ever, the  present  volume  does  not  aspire. 

The  promise,  originally  made  to  Abraham,  "  I 
will  be  a  God  to  thee,  and  thy  seed  after  thee," 
has  been  strikingly  fulfilled  to  those  of  "  like  pre- 
cious faith,"  in  every  succeeding  age.  Abun- 
dantly was  it  verified  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Green- 
leaf —  many,  among  her  immediate  ancestors, 
having  been  eminent  Christians. 

Her  grandfather,  Philip  Coombs,  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  came  to  this  country  from  the  island  of 
Guernsey,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  now  Newbury- 
port,  (Mass.)  He  was  regular  in  his  attendance 
upon  public  worship,  and  was  esteemed  a  good 
man.  Such,  doubtless,  he  was  also  in  his  own 
estimation ;  for  it  was  a  day,  when  religion  had 
lost  her  vitality,  and  "good  works"  constituted 
piety.  To  Mr.  Whitefield  was  he  indebted,  like 
so  many  others  in  this  region,  for  his  first  correct 
knowledge  of  himself.  So  powerfully  was  he  con- 
victed of  sin  under  his  preaching,  that,  for  three 
months,  he  was  unfitted  for  work. 


MRS.    JANE   GREENLEAF.  15 

After  his  conversion  he  was  remarkable  for  his 
devout  regard  for  the  Sabbath.  Of  him  it  might 
be  truly  said,  he  called  the  Sabbath  "  a  delight, 
the  Holy  of  the  Lord,  Honorable."  On  that 
sacred  day  he  took  no  breakfast,  saying  to  his  wife, 
when  urged  by  her,  "  I  have  meat  to  eat  that  the 
world  knows  not  of."  That  he  might  prepare  him- 
self for  the  proper  reception  of  the  truth,  he  went 
early  to  the  house  of  Grod ;  and  that  his  meditations 
might  not  be  disturbed,  and  thus  the  benefit  lost, 
he  remained  until  the  congregation  had  left. 

Ever  mindful  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and 
acknowledging  an  overruling  Providence,  he  would 
not  leave  home,  even  for  an  absence  of  a  few  days, 
without  first  putting  his  hand  on  the  head  of  his 
eldest  son,  William,  and  remaining  some  minutes 
in  the  attitude  of  prayer. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  elders  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport,  and 
died  in  France,  having  been  taken  prisoner  during 
the  war  with  that  country  in  1759.  There  he  was 
held  in  such  veneration  by  the  keeper  of  the 
prison,  that  they  spoke  of  him  as  "  that  good  Mr. 
Coombs." 

Before  his  death,  the  Romish  priests  urged  upon 
him  some  of  the  ceremonies  of  their  church ;  but, 
firm  in  the  faith,  he  resisted,  with  strong  emotion, 


16  MEMOIR   OP 

even  when  unable  to  speak.  His  age  was  fifty- 
two  years. 

His  wife,  also,  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  at- 
tainments in  piety ;  and  being  spared  to  a  good 
old  age,  she  had  a  decided  influence  upon  the 
religious  character  of  her  grandchildren,  whom  she 
never  ceased  to  instruct  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
The  subject  of  this  memoir  has  often  remarked, 
that  "  there  was  a  peculiar  majesty  in  her  grand- 
mother's piety."  It  was  not  of  that  dwarfish, 
sickly  character,  so  common  in  this  day,  when  the 
religion  of  many  seems  to  consist  more  in  bustling 
activity  than  in  the  devotion  of  the  closet.  In  the 
duty  of  prayer  she  abounded,  and,  probably,  to 
this  her  posterity  have  since  been  indebted.  For 
them,  even  to  the  latest  generation,  she  was  accus- 
tomed to  make  special  supplication.  She  died  in 
1793,  aged  78  years. 

Mrs.  Greenleaf  's  father,  William  Coombs,  was 
one  of  "  Nature's  noblemen,"  and  divine  grace 
wrought  within  him  his  parents'  religious  traits  of 
character.  To  a  natural  urbanity  of  manner 
Christian  principle  imparted  a  charm,  which  com- 
manded admiration  and  respect.  Although  he 
became  early  interested  in  the  great  subject  of  per- 
sonal piety,  yet  "  he  had  passed  beyond  the  mid- 
dle of  life,  before  he  collected  courage  to  join  in 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  17 

full  communion  with  the  church.  But  ever  after, 
"his  path,  like  the  morning  light,  shone  brighter 
and  brighter,  to  the  perfect  day."* 

His  delight  was  prayer,  in  which  exercise, 
whether  in  the  family  or  social  circle,  he  was  char- 
acterized by  deep  humility,  reverence,  and  fervor, 
the  tears  generally  falling  down  his  aged  cheeks, 
while  he  lamented  his  sins. 

Like  his  parents,  also,  he  was  a  strict  observer 
of  the  Sabbath.  "  He  literally  devoted  the  whole 
day  to  spiritual  exercises,  either  public  or  private. 
In  the  sanctuary  he  was  a  most  punctual  and  de- 
vout worshipper."* 

How  he  loved  the  Sabbath  is  evident  from  the 
following  remark.  Expressing  to  a  daughter  some 
doubts  respecting  his  state,  she  mentioned  his  love 
for  that  day  as  an  evidence  of  his  sanctification. 
He  replied,  at  once,  "  0  !  the  Sabbath!  why,  it 
is  no  sooner  come  than  it  is  gone  ! " 

A  few  Sabbaths  before  his  decease,  his  pastor 
being  absent,  the  clergyman,  who  supplied  the 
pulpit,  was  invited  to  his  house.  In  his  conversa- 
tion he  found  enjoyment ;  but,  on  Monday,  he 
remarked  to  his  wife,  that  he  missed  his  usual 
Sabbath  reading,  which  had  thus  been  interrupted, 
and  he  should  devote  Tuesday  to  the  enjoyment  of 
his  Sabbath  privileges,  which  accordingly  he  did. 
*  Funeral  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Dana. 

2* 


18  MEMOIR   OP 

"He  was  distinguished  for  his  benevolence  and 
liberality.  He  appeared  to  realize  no  value  in 
wealth,  but  as  it  furnished  the  means  of  alleviating 
distress,  and  of  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and  souls 
of  his  fellow-creatures. 

"While  severe  in  scrutinizing  and  judging  him- 
self, he  was,  as  it  respected  others,  an  example  of 
unaffected  and  enlarged  candor,  and  an  unusual 
share  of  the  uniting,  healing  spirit  of  Christianity. 

"He  was  seized  with  palsy,  May  23d,  1814,  and 
died  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  in  the  seventy- 
eighth  year  of  his  age.  After  his  seizure,  he  had 
little  power  of  speech,  or  thought.  A  few  broken 
expressions,  such  as  "  Blessed  state !  Blessed 
Lord !  Blessed  Jesus !  were  all  he  uttered  ;  but 
these  were,  probably,  indications  of  the  tranquil 
and  happy  state  of  his  mind."  * 

Of  her  mother  it  is  only  necessary  to  add  that 
she  also  was  a  child  of  grace,  amiable  in  disposi- 
tion, and  distinguished  for  benevolence  to  the 
poor.  Her  life  was  not  long,  (as  she  died  at  the 
age  of  forty-four,)  and  it  was  clouded,  during  three 
years,  by  mental  derangement.  But  reason  re- 
turned before  death,  and  her  last  words  were, 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly!  " 

That  the  pious  spirit,  which  animated  those  who 
went  before  her,  lost  nothing  of  its  fervency  in  her, 

*  Dr.  Dana's  Sermon. 


MRS.    JANE    GKEENLEAP. 


19 


who  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  will  be  seen  in 
the  following  pages.  She  was  well  known,  in  a 
wide  sphere,  as  "  a  mother  in  Israel,"  and,  in  her, 
the  peculiar  graces,  manifested  by  her  devout  an- 
cestors, were  strongly  marked. 


MEMOIR   OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  I  thought  on  my  ways,  and  turned  my  feet  unto  thy  testimonies/' 

Ps.  cxix.  59. 

THE  subject  of  this  Memoir,  Jane  Coombs,  was 
born  in  Newburyport,  January  22,  1764.  She 
was  the  second  child  of  William  and  Jane  Coombs. 
In  childhood,  she  was  amiable,  correct,  and  be- 
loved. The  influence  and  instructions  of  her 
parents,  daily  intercourse  with  her  excellent  grand- 
mother, and  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  gospel 
by  her  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  which  were 
often  accompanied  by  the  special  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  early  produced,  in  her,  much  solici- 
tude respecting  her  eternal  welfare.  Even  in 
youth  she  felt  that  she  was  "  a  child  of  wrath," 
and  needed  "  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  the 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  to  fit  her  to  glorify 
God  on  earth,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  him  in  Heaven. 

Still,  for  many  years,  she  loved  the  world,  and 
withheld  her  affections  from  her  rightful  Sovereign. 
But  death  entered  the  family,  and  two  infant  sis- 
ters and  a  brother  were  taken  away ;  in  a  few 
years  her  beloved  mother  died,  and  in  three  weeks 


MRS.    JANE   GREENLEAF.  21 

after,  her  eldest  sister  followed  in  a  rapid  decline ; 
and  in  two  years,  a  very  promising  brother,  just 
entering  manhood,  was  laid  in  the  silent  tomb. 
Not  till  1788,  however,  was  any  permanent  im- 
pression made  upon  her  mind,  when  the  death  of 
a  favorite  sister,  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  was 
made  the  means  of  convincing  her  of  sin,  and 
leading  her  to  resolve  that  she  would  seek  the 
Lord  with  all  her  heart.  Even  yet,  she  did  not, 
at  once,  forsake  all  for  Christ.  Trembling,  she 
stood  beneath  Mount  Sinai,  whilst  the  trumpet 
sounded  long  and  loud.  "  The  terrors  of  the  Lord 
set  themselves  in  array  against  her,"  and  his 
arrows  rankled  within.  Her  convictions  were  dis- 
tressing and  of  long  continuance.  So  absorbed 
was  she  in  securing  a  refuge  from  the  coming 
wrath,  that  she  could  hardly  persuade  herself  to 
attend  to  the  common  duties  of  life.  She  em- 
braced every  opportunity  of  hearing  the  gospel 
preached,  both  in  her  own  and  the  neighboring 
churches ;  and  persevered  in  secret  prayer,  and  in 
reading  the  Bible  and  religious  books,  especially 
Doddridge's  "  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion, " 
from  which  she  derived  much  benefit.  After  a 
time,  her  distressing  anxiety  subsided,  though 
her  interest  in  religion  remained.  She  then  feared 
she  had  grieved  away  the  Holy  Spirit,  and,  while 
Christian  friends  hoped  that  she  was  a  child  of 


22  MEMOIR   OF 

God,  she  considered  herself  still  "  an  alien  from 
the  commonwealth  of  Israel. " 

In  December,  1796,  she  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Ebenezer  Greenleaf,  of  Newburyport.  For  a 
time,  the  duties  and  cares  of  domestic  life  absorbed 
her  attention,  and  her  religious  affections  suffered 
an  abatement.  In  the  following  year,  when  pa- 
rental responsibilities  were  added  to  previous 
duties,  she  went,  with  increased  earnestness,  to 
"  the  mercy  seat,"  that  Divine  grace  might  be 
bestowed  on  herself,  and  on  her  infant  son,  whom 
she  felt  bound  to  train  up  t:  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord." 

At  that  period  it  was  the  practice  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport  to  allow 
parents,  of  good  moral  character  and  serious  de- 
portment, to  present  their  children  for  baptism, 
by  consenting  to  the  "  half-way  covenant. "  She 
was  admitted  to  this  privilege,  and  thought  it  was 
much  blessed  to  her.* 

In  the  Spring  of  1799,  after  a  careful  and  pray- 
erful examination  of  the  state  of  the  heart  before 
God,  she  discovered  evidences,  hitherto  unnoticed, 
that  she  had  been  "  born  of  the  Spirit. "  She  no 
longer  approached  God  with  slavish  fear ;  but  re- 
garding him  as  her  reconciled  Father  and  friend, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  she  found  much  comfort  in 

*  This  practice  was  abandoned  after  1820. 


MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF. 


23 


drawing  nigh  to  Him.  The  conversation  of  a 
very  devoted  Christian,  of  Portland,  (Maine,) 
was  much  blessed  to  her  at  this  period.  To  him 
she  disclosed  her  religious  experience,  and  he  re- 
joiced to  find  that  "  salvation  had  come  to  her 
house."  She  corresponded  witl^  him  frequently 
afterwards,  and  derived  much  quickening  and 
strength  from  his  Christian  counsel  and  prayers. 

In  August  of  the  same  year,  she  ventured, 
though  with  many  doubts  and  fears,  to  unite  with 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  her  hon- 
ored father  was  then  an  elder,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Dana 
the  pastor.  From  this  period  she  made  religion 
the  chief  business  of  her  life,  and  to  its  close,  ex- 
emplified its  excellency  in  an  uncommon  degree. 


24  MEMOIR   OP 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  The  righteoug  shall  ftmrish  like  the  palm-tree ;  he  shall  grow  like 
a  cedar  in  Lebanon."  —  Ps.  xcii.  12. 

"  FROM  a  secret  source,"  says  an  able  writer, 
"  the  believer  in  Jesus  draws  his  life.  The 
morning  portion  of  the  Word,  the  morning 
prayer,  the  morning  meditation ;  these  are  the 
'  stolen  waters,'  which  keep  him  green  all  day ; 
and,  even  in  the  desert,  there  is  a  dew,  which, 
descending  on  his  branches  over  night,  brings  him 
forth  fragrant  and  lively  to  the  morrow."  This 
"  secret  source  "  and  fountain  of  spiritual  life  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  had  now  discovered.  The 
path  to  its  healing  waters  was  made  familiar  to 
her ;  and,  during  her  whole  subsequent  life,  she 
was  "  obstinately  punctual  "  to  her  stated  seasons 
of  devotion. 

But  the  children  of  God  are  reminded  that  it  is 
"  through  much  tribulation  they  must  enter  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven."  Says  the  writer  already 
quoted,  (Hamilton,)  "  It  is  by  means  of  the 
sifting  and  crushing  processes,  to  which  they  are 
subjected,  by  the  Providence  of  Grod,  that  they 


MRS.    JANE   GREENLEAF.  25 

become  '  the  salt  of  the  earth,'  '  the  lights  of  the 
world ; '  "  and  many  and  severe  were  the  trials 
through  which  she  passed. 

In  the  summer  of  1801,  she  was  prostrated  by 
severe  illness,  which  continued  for  six  months,  and 
brought  her,  apparently,  near  to  death.  But  God 
had  a  work  for  her  to  do  on  earth,  before  her  war- 
fare was  accomplished ;  and  she  was,  gradually, 
restored. 

After  her  recovery  the  nerve  of  the  ear  was  dis- 
covered to  have  sustained  so  much  injury,  that, 
ever  after,  she  was  afflicted  with  deafness.  At 
first,  it  was  only  slight ;  but  it  gradually  increased, 
so  that,  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  of  her  life, 
she  never  heard  a  sentence  from  the  pulpit,  al- 
though she  was  able  to  hear  the  conversation  of 
friends,  when  they  sat  by  her  side,  till  within  the 
last  ten  years,  when  she  was  obliged  to  have  the 
aid  of  a  trumpet  for  that  purpose. 

This  deafness  was  a  sore  trial  to  her.  She  often 
said,  "  It  was  a  blow  at  the  root  of  her  pride  ;  " 
but  she  blessed  God  for  it,  feeling  that  it  was  ab- 
solutely necessary.  As  other  trials  followed,  some 
of  which  were  wholly  unexpected,  and  peculiarly 
heart-rending,  she  bowed  to  the  strokes  of  her 
Heavenly  Father's  rod,  being  more  solicitous  to 
have  them  sanctified  than  removed.  Whatever 
instrument  was  employed  for  her  correction,  she 
3 


26  MEMOIR   OP 

looked  above  second  causes,  and  received  it  as 
from  the  hand  of  God.  When  any  fresh  trial  was 
sent,  her  first  petition  was,  usually,  that  of  Job, 
"  Show  me  wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me  ;  " 
and  she  at  once  commenced  the  work  of  self- 
examination,  that  she  might  discover,  confess,  and 
forsake  the  sins,  which  had  made  the  discipline 
necessary. 

In  the  life  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Boston,  an  em- 
inent Scotch  divine,  it  is  stated,  that  when  he  was 
in  any  perplexity,  either  temporal  or  spiritual,  he 
never  obtained  an  "  outlet,"  until  he  had  made  a 
full  confession  of  his  sins  to  God.  After  reading 
this,  she  adopted  the  same  practice,  and,  often, 
when  her  way  was  hedged  up,  she  would  say,  "  I 
think  I  have  not  recollected  all  my  sins  ;  I  must 
begin  with  the  sins  of  my  youth."  In  the  opinion 
of  the  world,  her  early  life  was  free  from  blemish ; 
but  she  looked  at  herself  in  the  glass  of  God's  law, 
and  realizing  its  strictness  and  spirituality,  she  saw 
so  much  sin  in  her  heart  and  life,  as  to  require 
deep  self-abasement  before  God. 

While  in  her  father's  house,  she  was  accustomed 
to  affluence  ;  subsequently,  she  passed  through 
embarrassed  and  straitened  circumstances.  Here, 
too,  she  acquiesced  in  the  wise  allotments  of 
Divine  Providence,  often  remarking  that  these 
outward  trials  were  best  adapted  to  subdue  her 


MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF.          27 

natural  independence  ;  and  so  often  was  the  hand 
of  Clod  stretched  out  for  her  relief,  and  such  proofs 
of  his  love  and  care  did  she  receive,  that  she  was 
enabled  to  trust  in  him  more  simply  than  she 
would  have  done  in  other  circumstances.  She 
always  went  to  God  with  all  her  temporal  wants, 
as  well  as  her  spiritual  necessities;  and,  some- 
times, while  she  was  yet  speaking,  an  answer  to 
her  requests  was  granted. 

The  following  is  one,  among  many,  of  the  inter- 
positions of  Providence,  which  she  experienced. 

Being  in  want  of  a  small  sum  of  money,  after 
spreading  her  case  before  the  Lord,  she  called  on 
a  friend,  who  possessed  ample  means,  and  request- 
ed, of  him,  the  loan  of  the  amount  needed.  He 
declined  coldly,  but  politely,  which  was  so  unex- 
pected, that  she  left  his  door  much  depressed  in 
spirits.  But,  as  she  came  down  the  steps,  the 
lines, 

"  Your  heaps  of  glittering  dust  are  yours, 
And  my  Redeemer's  mine,"' 

were  so  powerfully  suggested  to  her  mind,  as  to 
dispel  her  despondency,  and  she  walked  cheerfully 
towards  her  home.  On  her  way,  she  called  at 
another  friend's,  but  not  with  any  intention  of 
asking  his  aid.  In  conversation,  she  incidentally 
mentioned  her  disappointment.  The  gentleman 


28  MEMOIR   OF 

immediately  inquired  what  sum  she  wanted  ?  and, 
on  her  naming  it,  said,  "  I  will  let  you  have  it." 
Going  to  his  desk,  he  handed  her  the  money,  and 
wrote  a  note  for  her  signature,  saying,  "you  can 
take  your  own  time  to  repay  it."  With  a  heart 
of  admiring  gratitude  she  returned  home,  to  raise 
a  fresh  "  Ebenezer "  to  her  "Helper,  God." 
In  a  few  months  the  kind  friend  was  removed  by 
death,  and  before  arrangements  could  be  made  to 
cancel  the  note,  his  children  sent  it  to  her  as  a 
gift.  While  life  lasted  she  never  forgot  the 
favor,  or  ceased  to  pray  that  this  family  might  be 
rewarded  with  spiritual  blessings. 

She  often  spoke  of  a  sermon  of  one  of  her  pas- 
tors, Rev.  Mr.  Murray,  from  the  text  which  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  chapter,  and  quoted  one  re- 
mark in  it,  viz.  :  "  Naturalists  tell  us  that  weights 
are  hung  on  the  limbs  of  the  palm-tree  to  make  it 
bear  fruit ;  so  God  hangs  the  weights  of  affliction 
on  believers  that  they  may  be  fruitful ;  "  and,  as 
her  trials  increased,  she  would  say,  "  These  are 
some  of  the  weights/' 

In  addition  to  the  bereavements,  mentioned  in 
the  preceding  chapter,  her  venerated  grandmother 
was  removed  by  death  in  1793.  In  1805  a  sis- 
ter, and  in  1812  two  sisters  'also  died,  and  in 
1814  her  father  was  taken  to  "  the  rest  that  re- 
maineth  for  the  people  of  God."  That  she  felt 


OF  THE 

EB 

MRS.    JANE    GKEENBAP.  29 


all  these  trials  no  one  could  doubt  ;  but  she  bore 
them  with  resignation  to  the  Divine  will,  being 
anxious  only  to  profit  by  them. 

As  exhibiting  her  feelings  and  habits  at  this 
period  of  her  life,  the  following  extracts  from  a 
journal,  which  she  kept  during  more  than  fifty 
years,  and  in  which  she  recorded  the  events  and 
mercies  of  every  day,  may  be  given. 

"  January  22d,  1810.  —  My  birth  day  —  just 
forty-six  years  old.  How  long  have  I  been 
spared,  and  to  how  little  purpose  have  I  lived  ! 
I  am  a  wonder  to  myself,  when  I  take  a  review  of 
my  life,  and  think  of  the  changes  through  which  I 
have  passed.  One  mercy  has  followed  another; 
yet  I  have  been  unmindful  of  the  hand  which  has 
been  showering  them  upon  me.  How  many  of 
my  dear  friends  are  gone  down  to  the  house  of 
silence  !  Alas  !  my  leanness  !  my  leanness  ! 

"February  ISth,  Sabbath  Evening.  —  Mr. 
Gr.  Spring  preached  in  the  morning.  Text,  *  I 
will  be  a  Father  unto  you,'  &c.  Afternoon,  Mr. 
Dana.  Ps.  cxxvi.  *  When  the  Lord  turned  again 
the  captivity  of  Zion,'  &c.  In  the  evening,  Mr. 
Stuart  of  New  Haven.  I  admired  him.  His 
prayer  was  reverent  ;  sermon  solemn  ;  manners 
perfectly  unaffected.  Text,  '  How  shall  we  es- 
cape, if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation  !  '  As  nearly 
as  I  could  hear,  he  told  us,  that  many,  who  kept 
3* 


30  MEMOIR   OF 

up  the  form  of  godliness,  were  yet  neglecters  of 
this  salvation.  I  wish  to  push  the  inquiry 
home  to  my  own  heart,  Am  I  not  one  of  these 
neglecters?  " 

"  June  8th,  Communion  Sabbath.  —  Text, 
*  And  you  hath  he  quickened,  who  were  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins.'  A  solemn,  clear  discourse. 
In  the  communion  season,  I  felt  more  comfortable 
than  common.  This  day's  solemn  transaction  is 
recorded  on  high.  Why  this  insensibility,  0  !  my 
soul  ?  If  my  heart  has  never  been  renewed,  I 
am  in  a  most  dreadful  state.  If  it  has,  *  why  is 
my  love  so  faint,  so  cold  to  thee,'  0 !  thou  source 
of  all  Divine  joy  ?  I  do  hope,  at  times,  that  I  am 
regenerated ;  but  still  I  am  cold  and  insensible 
under  Thy  cultivation.  Gracious  God,  Thou 
knowest  my  inmost  soul.  Do  thou  enable  me  now 
to  live  wholly  to  Thy  glory.  Let  my  all  be  conse- 
crated to  Thee.  I  am  unworthy ;  but  Thou  de- 
lightest  to  show  mercy,  even  to  the  vilest  of  the 
vile.  Be  pleased  to  let  me  see  my  guilt  and 
ill-desert. 

"  June  15th,  Sabbath  Evening. — What  rea- 
son have  I  to  be  glad,  and  rejoice  in  the  goodness 
of  the  Most  High  to  me  and  mine !  We  are 
spared,  monuments  of  mercy,  while  death  has  cut 
down  a  promising  child  in  this  neighborhood.  Let 
it  not  be  in  vain  that  we  are  spared.  0  !  Gra- 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  31 

cious  Parent,  give  me  grace  to  live  devoted  to  Thy 
glory  !  Let  me  not  sink  when  chastened  by  Thy 
rod ;  but  '  show  me  wherefore  Thou  contendest 
with  me  '  and  mine.  Give  me  patience,  and  true 
submission  to  Thy  holy  will.  When  I  know  not 
what  to  do,  0  !  lead  me  in  the  right  way ! 

"  August  19th. — Think  of  going  to  Chester 
to-morrow,  to  visit  Aunt  Wilcomb.  Gracious 
Parent,  let  my  eye  be  single  to  Thy  glory  in  this, 
and  every  undertaking.  Without  thy  blessing 
nothing  prospers.  0  !  that  [I  may  be  enabled  to 
give  up  myself  and  family,  in  faith,  into  Thy 
hands,  and  trust  Thy  care !  0  !  for  true  wisdom 
to  order  my  conversation  aright ! 

"September  15^,  Sabbath  Evening.  —  How 
cold  and  dead  have  I  been,  to-day,  to  spiritual 
things !  0 !  for  the  quickening  and  enlivening 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  descend  on  my 
dead  soul,  and  not  on  mine  only,  but  on  all  this 
family,  and  the  whole  world  !  0  !  that  I  may  be 
enabled  to  make  some  progress  in  the  Divine  life, 
if  I  have  set  out  therein !  If  not,  0  that  I  may 
begin  to  live  a  new  life,  by  faith  in  Christ !  " 

The  following  extracts  were  written  during  a 
short  visit  in  D. 

"  September  25th,  Saturday  Evening. — Well 
may  I  say,  '  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  have  fol- 
lowed me  all  my  days.'  0  !  that  a  blessing  may 


32  MEMOIR    OF 

come  down  on  this  family !  May  they  have 
spiritual  blessings  for  the  temporal  favors  bestowed 
on  me  !  Their  kindness  will  leave  a  lasting  im- 
pression on  my  mind. 

"  I  feel  that  the  holy  Sabbath  is  now  begun. 
I  desire  to  lift  my  heart  to  God  for  a  blessing  on 
myself  and  others,  that  it  may  be  a  day  to  be  had 
in  everlasting  remembrance.  Lord,  lift  thou  up 
the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon  me  !  Deliver 
me  from  distracting  cares  and  vain  thoughts.  Be 
with  my  dear  family.  Preserve  them  from  sin 
and  every  evil.  O  !  that  we  may  meet  in  safety, 
with  hearts  glowing  with  gratitude  ! 

"Sabbath,  26th. — I  awoke  early,  and  en- 
deavored to  realize  that  this  was  a  day  of  holy 
rest.  After  breakfast,  read  Romaine's  '  Walk  of 
Faith ; '  an  excellent  book.  May  its  truths  sink 
deep  into  my  heart,  and  spring  up  and  bear  fruit, 
spiritual  and  abiding !  Mr.  Gile,  of  Milton, 
preached.  Text,  *  Of  whom  the  whole  family  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  named.'  It  was  a  very  ex- 
perimental discourse.  He  said,  Christians  should 
be  all  one.  Paul,  when  he  was  converted,  began 
to  pray  for  that  cause  which  he  had  before  opposed. 
The  hidings  of  God's  face  are  salutary  to  the 
saints ;  they  are  thus  led  to  trust  less  to  them- 
selves, and  to  see  their  need  of  Divine  teaching ; 
they  have  no  strength  of  their  own;  but  they 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  33 

have  the  word  of  God  for  it,  that  they  shall  perse- 
vere. They  are  apt  to  be  taken  up  with  worldly 
objects,  which  deaden  the  life  of  faith.  It  is  a 
great  mercy  that  Grod  visits  them  with  afflictions, 
which  wean  their  hearts  from  the  world,  and  lead 
them  to  be  more  spiritually-minded.  When 
creature  comforts  fail  them,  they  soar  aloft  for 
true  happiness,  where  alone  it  can  be  found.  I 
was  much  pleased  with  the  subject ;  wish  I  could 
remember  more. 

"In  the  afternoon  his  subject  was,  the  man 
lying  at  the  pool  of  Bethesda.  An  excellent  ser- 
mon, upon  the  sad  state  of  all  unconverted  sin- 
ners ;  and  their  only  hope  of  salvation  is  from  the 
blood  of  Christ  being  applied  to  their  souls.  An 
invitation  was  given  to  all  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  this  day  in  serious  self-examination,  to  know  if 
they  have  been  washed  in  this  precious  blood.  I 
enjoyed  the  whole  services  very  much.  The  sing- 
ing was  delightful.  Was  pleased  to  see  so 
many  serious  looking  men.  Now  I  am  retired  to 
my  chamber  to  meditate  on  what  I  have  heard. 
How  stands  the  case  with  my  own  soul  ?  Blessed 
Jesus,  if  I  have  not  been  washed  in  this  precious 
pool,  do  thou  now  wash  away  my  crimson  sins. 
'  None  but  a  bath  of  blood  Divine  '  can  cleanse 
my  guilty  soul.  0  !  thou  Holy  Dove,  descend, 
and  quicken  many  precious  souls  in  this  place. 


34  MEMOIR   OF 

Let  a  copious  shower  fall  on  all  around  !  As 
we  come  from  these  ordinances,  may  we  be  pre- 
pared for  every  conflict  that  awaits  us.  If  disap- 
pointments and  crosses  are  near,  may  I  possess 
my  soul  in  patience." 

The  following  extract,  written  the  next  day,  will 
show  her  diligence  in  improving  opportunities  to 
do  good :  — 

"  Monday r,  27 th.  —  Returned  home.  Had 
some  interesting  conversation  with  a  gentleman  in 
the  stage  coach,  who  seemed  to  be  an  unbeliever. 
A  young  gentleman  joined  me  in  endeavoring  to 
remove  some  of  his  objections ;  and  I  thought,  at 
last,  he  felt  somewhat  humbled ;  at  least,  he 
acknowledged  some  things  which  he  denied  at 
first.  The  moderation  of  the  young  gentleman 
seemed  to  strike  him  agreeably.  When  we 
stopped,  he  asked  me  if  I  knew  him.  I  told  him 
I  did  not.  He  said  he  admired  him. 

"  Oct.  27th,  Sabbath. — In  the  morning,  as 
soon  as  I  awoke,  endeavored  to  collect  my  scat- 
tered thoughts,  and  send  up  my  desires  for  a 
blessing.  Met  with  some  trials.  After  breakfast, 
collected  the  children,  and  read  the  conversion  of 
the  Jailor,  and  attempted  to  look  to  God,  in  an 
united  manner,  for  a  blessing,  and  had  time  to 
read  afterwards.  We  attended  meeting.  Mr. 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  35 

Dana  preached  on  a  part  of  Rev.  vii. :  '  These 
are  they  that  have  come  out  of  great  tribulation/ 
&c.  A  solemn  sermon.  He  observed  that  *  the 
righteous  generally  experience  great  trials ;  not 
that  troubles  prepare  them  for  heaven ;  but  they 
are  sanctified  to  them  to  wean  them  from  earth, 
and  purify  their  souls.' 

"  Afternoon.  Text,  '  The  fear  of  the  wicked 
shall  come  upon  him.'  This  he  proved  in  various 
ways.  One  fear  is,  that  the  Bible  will  prove 
true.  However  they  may  try  to  banish  the 
thought  by  gay  company  and  amusements,  yet 
they  cannot  get  rid  of  it.  The  gay  are  the 
wretched ;  the  serious  only  have  cause  for  real 
joy.  How  safe  are  those  who  are  real  Christians  ; 
seeking  the  glory  of  Grod ;  longing  to  be  made 
holy ;  thirsting  for  the  waters  of  life ;  mourning 
for  sin  !  0 !  that  I  may  be  one  of  those  ! 

"  29^,  Tuesday. — How  many  favors  we  for- 
get, and  how  little  gratitude  do  we  feel,  when  we 
realize  that  we  do  receive  great  mercies  !  I  desire 
to  be  deeply  humbled  under  a  sense  of  my  insensi- 
bility, when  I  am  daily  receiving  numberless 
favors.  When  I  look  back  on  my  past  life,  what 
do  I  discover  but  great  provocations,  and  great 
mercies  !  0  !  thou  gracious  Parent,  look  down  in 
pity  on  me,  thy  guilty  creature,  and  forgive  my 
sins  of  early  childhood,  and  of  riper  years !  " 


Ob  MEMOIR   OP 

The  succeeding  extracts  are  of  various,  but 
uncertain  dates  :  — 

"Sabbath. — Mr.  Abbott,  of  Beverly,  preached. 
Text,  *  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with 
the  Father,  Jesus  Christ,  the  righteous.'  He  was 
solemn  and  engaged,  and,  I  thought,  remarkably 
clear.  His  prayer  was  uncommonly  good.  He 
addressed  convicted  sinners.  I  hope  and  pray 
that  a  blessing  will  follow  his  labors  here.  I 
longed  to  have  the  house  crowded,  and  all  in 
tears ;  but  the  set  time  for  a  general  revival  of 
religion  among  us,  seems  not  to  have  come,  as  it 
has  in  other  places.  0  !  for  more  engagedness 
among  Christians  !  0  !  for  a  refreshing  shower  of 
Divine  influence  on  my  own  soul,  that  I  may  live 
to  more  purpose  !  " 

"  Heard  that  a  little  boy  was  drowned  to-day. 
Death  meets  us  in  every  direction. 

'  Our  dying  friends  come  o'er  us  like  a  cloud, 
To  damp  our  brainless  ardors,  and  abate 
The  glare  of  life,  which  often  blinds  the  wise. 
For  us  they  languish,  and  for  us  they  die  ; 
And  shall  they  languish,  shall  they  die  in  vain  ?  ' 

My  mind  has  been  solemn  and  serene  to-day ;  felt 
desirous  to  live  above  the  world." 

"  Mrs.  H.  died  to-day,  and  Mrs.  P.'s  child  is 
very  sick.  We  are  spared  to  the  close  of  another 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  37 

week,  while  one  of  our  kindred  has  passed  the 
gulf  of  death,  and  others  appear  to  be  hovering 
over  the  brink  of  the  grave.  Pause,  my  soul, 
and  consider  thy  latter  end.  It  may  be  near. 
Time  is  but  a  moment  compared  to  eternity ;  and 
yet,  how  we  waste  this  inestimable  jewel!  I 
desire  to  be  up  and  doing,  for  there  is  no  work, 
nor  knowledge,  nor  device  in  the  grave,  whither 
we  are  hastening. " 

These  extracts,  though  written  without  the  most 
remote  idea  of  publication,  will  show  that  she 
scrutinized  her  own  heart,  and  earnestly  desired 
to  make  a  suitable  improvement  of  the  means  of 
grace  and  of  all  the  providences  of  God. 


MEMOIR    OP 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the 
Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and 
supplication  for  all  saints."  — EPH.  vi.  18. 

THE  earliest  recollections  of  the  children  of  this 
honored  mother,  are  those  which  relate  to  her 
prayers  and  constant  efforts  for  their  salvation, 
and  that  of  her  household,  and,  in  fact,  of  all  who 
came  within  the  sphere  of  her  influence.  Every 
morning  and  evening  it  was  her  uniform  practice 
to  retire  with  them  for  reading  the  Scriptures 
and  prayer ;  nor  can  they  ever  forget  the  solemnity 
and  fervor  with  which  she  made  known  her  re- 
quests to  God. 

She  laid  hold  of  the  covenant  in  their  behalf, 
believing  that  her  prayers  would  be  answered,  and 
they  be  made  the  subjects  of  renewing  grace, 
while  with  diligence  she  labored  to  persuade  them 
to  choose  that  good  part  which  could  not  be  taken 
away. 

After  the  death  of  her  father  in  1814,  she 
seemed  to  catch  his  falling  mantle,  and  to  give 
herself  to  prayer  with  increased  earnestness.  She 
joined  a  female  praying  circle,  and,  in  succeeding 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  39 

years,  aided  in  establishing  and  sustaining  others, 
from  which  she  was  never  absent,  unless  provi- 
dentially detained. 

The  benevolence  of  her  heart  prompted  her  to 
be  much  in  intercession  for  others.  Nor  did  she 
content  herself  with  an  occasional  petition  for 
them  ;  she  persevered  in  prayer  in  their  behalf. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  before  her  decease, 
she  devoted  a  part  of  every  Friday  morning  to  special 
prayer  for  Christian  friends  and  their  families,  and 
many  other  individuals,  for  whose  salvation  she  had 
strong  desires.  She  has  left  a  list  of  nearly  one 
hundred  persons  who  were  the  subjects  of  these 
prayers.  This  plan  was  first  suggested  by  reading 
in  the  life  of  a  Methodist  lady,  (Mrs.  Fletcher,  I 
believe,)  that  many  persons  of  that  denomination 
kept  every  Friday  as  a  season  of  fasting  and  prayer. 
Ever  after,  she  adopted  a  similar  practice ;  and 
many  were  the  instances  of  hopeful  conversion 
among  those  for  whom  she  thus  prayed. 

Her  prayerful  life  was  also  an  active  one.  She 
was  always  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work  ; 
never  deferring  to  "  a  more  convenient  season" 
any  plan  of  usefulness  which  she  had  in  contem- 
plation. To  labor  for  the  benefit  of  souls  was  her 
chief  delight,  and  having  a  peculiar  tact  for 
religious  conversation,  she  seldom  was  in  the  com- 
pany of  any  ersons,  even  for  a  short  time,  with- 


40  MEMOIH   OF 

out  speaking  to  them,  cither  directly  or  indirectly, 
concerning  their  spiritual  interests,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  securing  a  part  in  the  blessings  of  the 
gospel ;  and  as  she  always  considered  courtesy  as 
one  of  the  Christian  virtues,  she  seldom,  or  never, 
gave  offence. 

Did  a  young  friend  overtake  her  on  her  way  to 
the  house  of  Grod,  the  opportunity  was  improved 
to  urge  her  to  choose  the  "good  part."  One 
such  instance  is  remembered,  where  the  exhorta- 
tion was  fastened  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  mind, 
and  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  her 
friend.  Did  a  friend  or  stranger  call  upon  her, 
she  had  a  word  or  a  tract  to  give,  or  a  book  to 
lend.  When  visiting  the  poor  or  sick,  she  would 
pray  with  them,  and  point  them  to  the  Saviour  of 
sinners.  When  she  travelled  in  the  stage  coach, 
she  watched  for  an  opportunity  of  doing  good 
there,  and  faithfully  improved  it ;  and  when  she 
stopped  at  an  inn,  the  same  object  was  kept  in 
view,  and  a  few  tracts  were  left  with  the  hope  of 
usefulness.  These  were  the  every  day  results  of 
her  piety. 

"  In  the  tender  mercy  of  our  God,"  says  Ham- 
ilton, "  there  are  distributed  through  the  church, 
and  consequently  through  the  world,  many  who, 
in  beneficence,  flourish  like  the  palm.  *  To  do 
good  and  to  communicate,'  they  never  forget. 


They  cannot  avoid  it.  It  is  now  spontaneous  with 
them,  for  God  gave  them  the  disposition  when  he 
gave  them  their  new  nature.  Like  a  cool  shadow 
in  a  scorching  day,  their  counsel  revives  the  per- 
plexed, and  their  sympathy  soothes  the  sad." 
The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  one  of  these. 
She  shared  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  others,  so  far 
as  she  knew  them,  and  always  welcomed  to  her 
house  any  who  needed  her  counsel,  without  think- 
ing of  any  inconvenience  to  herself.  Anxious 
inquirers  resorted  to  her  frequently,  whom  she 
directed  to  the  "  Lamb  of  God,"  earnestly  ex- 
horting them  to  make  sure  work  of  conversion, 
and  build  their  hopes  for  eternity  on  the  only  safo 
foundation. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  HER  JOURNAL. 

"Nov.  2d,  1819,  Tuesday.— I  went  with 
Mrs.  P.  and  Miss  B.  to  visit  the  colored  people. 
They  received  us  kindly.  We  gave  them  some 
tracts,  and  spoke  to  them  upon  the  importance  of 
their  attending  to  religion.  We  found  three  who 
hope  they  are  Christians. 

"  19^,  Friday. — No  company  except . 

I  found  her,  as  I  do  often,  cold  as  to  spiritual 
things,  though  she  seems  to  have  very  clear  ideas 

of  the  truth,  and  likes  good  books ;  but  I  wish 
4* 


42  MEMOIR   OF 

she  felt  more  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  desiro 
to  commend  her  to  God. 

"20th,  Saturday.— NTS.  P.  called.  She 
was  distressed  about  her  daughter,  who  was  going 
to  a  party  in  the  evening.  I  wonder  not  at  her 
being  in  trouble.  It  is  melancholy  to  have  people 
so  wicked.  We  may  expect  the  judgments  of 
heaven  if  we  encroach  on  the  Sabbath.  Lord,  be 
pleased  to  open  their  eyes,  and  show  them  their 
guilt  and  danger  before  it  is  too  late. 

"  Dec.  2d,  Thanksgiving  Day.  —  Text,  '  In 
everything  give  thanks.'  How  many  mercies 
have  I  to  record  during  the  past  year !  My  health 
has  been  improved,  after  great  weakness ;  a  great 
burden  removed,  under  which  I  was  ready  to 
sink ;  and  I  trust  I  have  received  an  answer  to 
the  requests  I  have  been  offering  for  twenty  years. 
But  where  shall  I  begin  or  end  the  record  of  all 
the  blessings  bestowed  ? 

"  19*A,  Sabbath. — I  awoke  with  no  deep 
sense  of  the  importance  of  keeping  this  day  holy  ; 
my  thoughts  were  scattered  ;  but,  after  breakfast, 
felt  more  life ;  had  some  liberty  in  pleading  for 
the  souls  of  sinners,  and  for  a  blessing  on  minis- 
ters and  people.  Though  not  well  enough  to  go 
out,  the  morning  went  off  rapidly.  Mr.  Dana 
expounded  upon  the  disciples  showing  Christ  the 
the  temple.  Afternoon  text,  '  I  will  not  let  thee 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  43 

go,  except  thou  bless  me/  Subject  —  the  im- 
portance of  importunate,  persevering  prayer ;  our 
lifeless  manner  of  asking  is  one  reason  why  we  do 
not  obtain  more  frequent  answers  to  prayer.  Read 
Watson's  Body  of  Divinity. 

"  30^,  Thursday.  —  B.  H.  called.  She  was 
much  distressed,  fearing  she  had  committed  the 
unpardonable  sin.  I  tried  to  comfort  her. 

11  Jan.  23d,  1820,  Sabbath.  —  Though  I  am 
oppressed  for  breath,  have  had  a  better  day  than  I 
expected.  Read  the  Bible,  and  '  Practical  Piety/ 
That  part  designed  for  a  sick  person,  was  quite 
reviving  to  me.  I  want  to  feel  more  entirely 
resigned  under  this  rod,  and  every  other,  which  is 
laid  upon  me.  The  trial  of  having  some  good 
people  think  hard  of  me  for  speaking  too  freely, 
has  caused  me  some  uneasiness.  Hope  I  shall  be 
suitably  humbled  under  it.  I  desire  to  look  above 
second  causes,  and  see  how  richly  I  deserve  this 
chastisement  from  God.  I  think  I  was  to  blame 
for  speaking  so  freely ;  but  I  hope  I  intended  no 
harm,  but  rather  benefit.  I  must  watch  and  pray 
more  against  this  easily  besetting  sin  of  speaking 
too  much  of  others.  The  Lord  can  bring  good 
out  of  evil,  and  I  hope  he  will  overrule  this  event, 
for  his  glory  and  my  benefit.  Lord,  make  me 
willing  to  bear  any  cross  thou  shalt,  in  thy  wis- 
dom, see  best  to  lay  upon  me ! 


44  MEMOIR   OF 


£.  —  I  am  greatly  desirous  of  the  salva- 
tion of  my  dear  son.  I  may  say,  he  has  been  a 
son  of  many  prayers  ;  and  I  do  trust  he  will  be 
renewed  and  sanctified  in  God's  own  time. 

"Feb.  16^,  Wednesday.  —  A  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  for  the  out-pouring  of  the  Spirit. 
Eight  ministers  and  churches  united  in  it.  It  was 
a  solemn  and  interesting  season.  In  the  morning, 
Mr.  Giles  preached  in  his  own  church,  where  all 
assembled.  In  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Withington 
preached  in  ours  ;  and,  though  the  walking  was 
very  wet,  yet  the  houses  were  filled,  and  the  exer- 
cises very  appropriate,  as  I  am  told.  I  was 
unable  to  go  out,  but  enjoyed  the  day  at  home. 

11  March  \§th.  —  Heard  that  the  good  work  in 
By  field,  which  commenced  some  weeks  since, 
increases,  and  that  there  are  favorable  appear- 
ances in  the  lower  part  of  Newbury.  0  !  if 
these  poor,  hardened  people  should  be  visited  with 
salvation,  what  a  great  mercy  it  would  be  !  Some 
efforts  have  often  been  made  for  them,  without  any 
lasting  benefit  ;  but  now,  when  the  breath  from 
the  four  winds  has  come,  the  stout-hearted  begin 
to  tremble. 

"  April  8th,  Communion  Sabbath.  —  Not  well 
enough  to  go  out.  Read  Henry's  Commentary, 
and  Watson's  Divinity.  I  am  not  weary  of  Sab- 
bath work  ;  but  as  I  am  weak,  my  frame  grows 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  45 

tired.  There  is  a  '  rest  for  the  people  of  God,' 
where  we  shall  never  faint,  nor  grow  weary.  May 
I  be  daily  preparing  for  it. 

"  May.  —  Had  a  letter  from  an  absent  relative. 
He  hopes  his  heart  is  changed.  What  a  mercy  if 
it  is  !  Lord,  preserve  him  from  every  temptation ! 
I  have  reason  for  gratitude  that  I  am  so  well, 
though  I  fear  to  go  out  yet.  If  the  Lord  continues 
his  blessing,  I  hope  to  get  out  soon ;  but  I  am 
willing  to  wait  his  time,  knowing  it  is  the  best 
time  for  all  things. 

11  May  Uth,  Sabbath.  —  After  having  been 
confined  by  sickness  for  some  time,  I  was  enabled 
once  more  to  present  myself  in  the  house  of  God. 
It  seemed  almost  as  though  I  had  come  back  from 
the  unseen  world.  I  felt  the  solemnity  of  my 
situation.  Though  weak,  I  heard  more  than  I 
have  for  months,  if  not  a  year,  or  more.  Mr. 
Dana  preached  upon  prayer,  and  urged  the  duty 
on  Christians,  and  spoke  to  the  young  and  to 
mourners  very  solemnly.  Evening,  read  *  Zion's 
Pilgrim.' 

"  19*A,  Saturday. — Received  a  letter  and  a 
present  from  a  friend.  How  thankful  I  ought  to 
be  to  her,  but,  above  all,  to  him  who  put  it  into 
her  heart  to  supply  my  outward  wants.  0  !  how 
good  and  gracious  art  thou,  my  Heavenly  Father ! 


46  MEMOIR   OP 

Draw  outMny  heart  in  love  and  gratitude  to  thee. 
Let  my  future  life  be  consecrated  to  thy  service. 

"  June  3d,  Saturday.  —  Heard  that  I.  C.  was 
dead.  May  this  solemn  event  be  sanctified  to  his 
father,  and  friends,  and  all.  I  am  now  brought 
to  the  close  of  another  week,  in  better  health 
than  I  have  had  of  late.  My  mind  has  been  dis- 
tressed respecting  a  new  event  in  the  family  ;  but 
I  desire  to  look  to  the  Lord  for  help  and  direc- 
tion. I  have  passed  through  many  stormy  scenes, 
but  the  Lord  has  sustained  me ;  and  though  at 
times  things  look  dark  to  sense,  yet  faith  looks 
through  the  cloud.  That  God,  who  has  been  with 
us  in  six  troubles,  will  not,  I  believe,  forsake  us 
in  seven." 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  47 


CHAPTER  V; 

"Pray  for  thejpeace  of  Jerusalem,  they  shall  prosper  that  love 
thee."  —  PB.  cxxii.  6. 

THAT  this  lamented  mother  earnestly  desired 
the  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  the 
world,  the  preceding  pages  prove.  Hers  was  a 
spirit  of  enlarged  Christian  philanthropy,  and  it 
influenced  her  daily  life.  A  friend,  who  saw  her 
frequently  in  the  course  of  thirty  years,  "could 
never  recollect  a  single  instance,  in  which  the 
cause  of  Christ  did  not  seem  paramount  to  every 
other  in  her  view,  and  was  not,  more  or  less,  the 
subject  of  conversation  and  deep  interest." 

For  a  revival  of  religion  she  uniformly  prayed 
and  labored,  and  always  found  time  for  this  pur- 
pose, amidst  her  domestic  duties.  When  the 
blessing  descended,  she  was  filled  with  gratitude, 
and  faithfully  improved  the  opportunity,  which 
general  seriousness  afforded,  to  press  the  claims  of 
religion  upon  her  friends  and  others  ;  and  as  her 
judgment  and  experience  were  great,  she  was 
always  a  valuable  assistant  to  the  ministry  in  the 
work  of  winning  souls  to  Christ.  Nor  did  her 


48  MEMOIR    OP 

zeal  and  activity  decline,  as  is  too  often  the  case, 
when  the  revival  seemed  to  have  ceased.  There 
was  nothing  spasmodic  about  her  piety,  or  her 
zeal ;  but  to  labor  for  Christ  was  the  great  busi- 
ness of  her  life. 

In  her  conduct  during  the  existence  of  apparent 
revivals,  and  her  feelings  concerning  the  errors  in 
management,  which  have  sometimes,  perhaps  too 
often,  marred  their  beauty  and  efficiency,  she  was 
greatly  influenced  by  the  following  circumstance. 

During  the  years  1800  and  1801,  there  was  a 
very  extensive  work  of  grace  in  Newburyport. 
The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  poured  out  upon  the 
churches;  multitudes  were  awakened;  and  it 
resulted  in  the  "  turning  of  many  to  the  wisdom 
of  the  just;  "  their  subsequent  lives  proving  them 
to  have  been  truly  "  born  of  the  Spirit."  In  the 
opinion  of  competent  judges,  it  was  the  most  ex- 
tensive revival  that  has  been  enjoyed  in  Newbury- 
port for  the  last  half  century.  But,  unquestion- 
ably, there  was  much  of  mere  animal  excitement, 
and  something  for  Christians  to  regret  in  many  of 
the  services.  During  the  early  part  of  this 
revival,  she  was  confined  at  home  by  slight  indis- 
position, but  heard  much,  from  opposers  of  the 
work,  of  the  confusion  which  prevailed  in  some  of 
the  meetings.  The  first  time  she  attended,  after  a 
serious  and  excellent  sermon,  a  young  layman  was 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  49 

invited  to  lead  in  prayer.  His  apparent  irreve- 
rence disgusted  her,  and,  mistaking  the  hour  of 
nine  for  ten,  she  left  the  house  with  her  husband, 
and  expressed  her  disapprobation  to  him  in  strong 
terms.  The  next  day,  however,  she  felt  herself 
rebuked  in  the  following  manner.  Taking  up  the 
life  of  Col.  James  Gardiner,  she  read,  that 
' '  wherever  he  sa^w  any  hopeful  appearances  of  a 
revival  of  religion,  he  disregarded  "the  errors,  and 
did  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  good  work." 
At  once  she  resolved  to  imitate  his  example,  and 
ever  after  followed  it ;  not  sanctioning  what  was 
wrong,  but  not  keeping  herself  aloof  and  remain- 
ing inactive  because  of  it. 

The  following;extract  from  her  extensive  corres- 
pondence, was  written  during  a  period  of  unusual 
seriousness  in  Newburyport. 

To  Mrs.  M.  C.,  of  D. 

"  Kewburyport,  July  30, 1822. 

"MY  DEAR  MRS.  0., 

"  I  will  devote  a  few  minutes  this  evening  to 
writing  you ;  and  will  state  a  few  particulars  re- 
specting the  good  work  which  has  been  going  on 
among  us  of  late.  The  operations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  are  very  silent,  but  discernible  in  their 
effects.  For  many  months  a  small  cloud  has  been 
rising,  and  distilling  in  precious  mercy-drops. 
5 


50  Mr  \IOIR   OF 

Some  Christians  are  awake,  others  still  slumber. 
Our  meetings  for  prayer  have  been  increased. 
Some  small  circles  of  this  kind  have  been  much 
blessed.  For  instance,  a  few  females  have  met,  one 
evening  in  the  week,  to  pray  for  five  or  six  of  their 
unconverted  friends.  Two  such  circles  have  been 
formed  in  our  church,  of  the  young  members; 
and  there  have  been  some  answers  to  their  prayers. 
Every  Sabbath  evening  there  are  prayer  meetings 
in  Mr.  Dimmick's  church,  and  in  our  chapel. 
The  ministers  attend,  the  brethren  assisting  in  the 
exercises.  Mr.  Williams  has  an  inquiry  meeting 
every  Tuesday  evening.  From  twenty  to  thirty 
attend  it.  From  fifty  to  eighty  have  attended  Mr. 
Dimmick'-s.  The  work  has  been,  principally,  in 
his  society  ;  but  now  it  has  extended  to  the  others. 
The  subjects  of  the  work  are,  generally,  the 
young  ;  but  there  are  several  instances  of  middle 
aged  persons.  There  are  three  young  ladies  in 
this  neighborhood  who  eeem  to  be  in  a  hopeful 

state.     is  more  thoughtful  of  late.     I  find 

she  reads  the  Bible  with  Henry's  Commentary. 
She  has  a  hearing  ear,  and  likes  tho  closest  ser- 
mons the  best. 

"  Mr.  Williams  is  much  engaged,  and  feels  en- 
couraged at  the  present  prospect.  He  is  a  bold 
defender  of  the  faith ;  and,  in  this  day  of  error, 
we  ought  to  love  such  men. 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  51 

On  the  whole,  respecting  the  good  work  here,  I 
speak  with  caution  ;  and  yet  I  must  say,  that  the 
Spiritr  of  God  is  among  us,  awakening  the  atten- 
tion of  many,  quickening  Christians,  and  impel- 
ling them  to  make  great  exertions  for  others ;  and 
yet,  they  are  not  half  enough  aroused.  0 !  if 
we  all  felt  the  worth  of  souls,  how  we  should 
exert  every  power  and  talent  in  the  cause  of 
Christ ! 

"  Mr.  Williams  has  proposed  to  the  church,  to 
appoint  a  committee  of  the  brethren  to  visit  those 
parents  who  have  given  up  their  children  in  bap- 
tism, to  converse  with  them  and  their  children  upon 
the  nature  of  their  obligations,  and  to  urge  their 
duty  upon  them.  I  feel  glad  that  these  means 
have  been  resorted  to  ;  but,  after  all,  God  must 
bless  these  efforts,  or  they  will  be  in  vain.  Duty 
is  ours ;  events  are  God's.  It  is  high  time  for  us 
all  to  awake  out  of  sleep,  as  error  is  making  such 
inroads  upon  us.  And  yet,  it  becomes  those  who 
trust  they  hold  the  truth,  to  be  very  humble  and 
circumspect,  for  we  know  not  how  far  we  are  to 
be  tried.  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

J.  G." 

She  possessed  a  zealous  missionary  spirit.  Be- 
fore the  organization  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  she  became 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

deeply  interested  in  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
among  heathen  nations,  and  that  interest  never 
suffered  the  least  abatement  to  the  day  of  her 
death.  For  all  the  other  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  day,  also,  she  had  a  warm  regard,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  promoting  them.  Her  means  were 
small,  and  often  precarious ;  but  she  never  failed 
to  cast  her  mite  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord  at 
the  proper  season. 

There  was  one  object  in  which  she  was  specially 
and  deeply  interested  till  her  death.  This  was 
the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  people  living  on 
the  "  Isles  of  Shoals/'  a  cluster  of  islands  in  the 
ocean,  lying  within  the  bounds  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, about  twenty  miles  from  Newburyport. 
For  the  last  thirty  years  of  her  life,  she  cordially 
co-operated  with  those  who  sustained  a  mission 
there ;  and  after  she  had  entered  upon  her  seven- 
tieth year,  the  principal  care  of  providing  minis- 
ters and  teachers,  and  of  raising  funds  for  their 
support,  was  voluntarily  assumed  by  herself,*  until 
her  growing  infirmities  obliged  her  to  reliquish  it. 
A  few  weeks  before  her  decease,  she  proposed  send- 
ing them  some  papers  and  tracts. 

In  securing  funds  for  this  mission,  she  ventured 
out  in  faith,  without  any  certainty  how  or  where 

*  See  Appendix,  No.  2. 


MRS.    JANE    GilEENLEAF.  53 

the  full  amount  would  be  obtained.  In  her 
journal,  she  often  mentions  receiving  a  few  dollars 
for  "  the  Shoals  "  as  a  providential  favor. 

At  one  time,  she  needed  five  dollars  to  make 
up  the  sum  due  the  teacher  in  a  few  days.  While 
conversing  with  a  friend,  Kev.  Dr.  Dimmiek 
brought  in  that  amount  from  an  unknown  donor. 
As  she  received  it,  she  turned  to  her  friend,  say- 
ing, "  I  knew  I  should  get  it." 

These  people  were  constantly  remembered  in 
her  prayers,  especially  on  Fridays ;  and  much  did 
she  rejoice  when  any  report  of  their  improvement 
reached  her  ears. 

In  a  recent  visit  to  these  islands,  the  writer 
found  her  mother's  "  labors  of  love  "  for  them 
gratefully  remembered  \  and  evidence  was  ap- 
parent that  much  good  had  resulted  from  the 
establishment  of  this  mission.  The  news  of  her 
decease,  she  was  told,  had  caused  much  mourning 
among  the  inhabitants.  She  herself  was  kindly 
received  for  her  mother's  sake,  one  of  them  sayw 
ing,  as  he  rowed  her  to  Gosport,  "I  cannot  do 
too  much  for  you."  May  they  be  led  to  love  and 
serve  that  Saviour  who  was  "  all  in  all  "  to  their 
benefactress ! 

The  following  letter,-  to  a  friend  in  affliction, 
will  show  how  active  were  the  sympathies  of  her 
heart,  and  how  much  engaged  for  others. 
5* 


54  MEMOIR    OP 

"  Newburyport,  March  26, 1823. 
"MY   DEAR   MRS.    C., 

"  Ever  since  I  heard  of  the  mingled  cup  of  mercy 
and  affliction,  which  you  have  been  called  to 
drink,  my  thoughts  have  often  been  with  you.  I 
hope  the  trial  will  draw  you  very  near  to  your 
heavenly  Father.  Those  crosses  which  have  this 
effect,  we  must  number  among  our  richest  blessings, 
however  sharp  and  distressing  they  may  be  while 
we  are  enduring  them. 

"  I  have  felt  deeply  interested  in  the  state  of  the 
dear  little  child.  My  first  desire  has  been,  that 
his  precious  soul  may  be  washed  in  the  Redeemer's 
blood,  and  that  he  may  live  and  be  a  bright  ex- 
ample of  real  piety.  We  see,  in  the  sufferings  of 
these  little  ones,  the  infinite  evil  of  sin. 

"We  find,  by  daily  experience,  that  this  is  only 
a  state  of  trial ;  and  yet,  alas !  how  slow  of  heart 
are  we  in  learning  this  lesson !  We  are  expect- 
ing rest  here,  instead  of  pressing  forward,  and 
endeavoring  to  live  above  the  world. 

"  From  what  I  hear,  I  think  you  have  been  en- 
abled to  exercise  real  submission  under  this  sharp 
rod.  I  hope  you  will  come  out  of  the  furnace 
purified  as  silver  seven  times  refined. 

"I  have  often  felt  that  so  much  worldly  pros- 
perity as  you  have  been  indulged  with  for  many 
years,  was  dangerous,  and  I  have  trembled  for 


MRS.   JANE    GREENLEAF.  55 

you,  for  the  Christian  needs  affliction.  As  to  my- 
self, I  find  I  need  constant  discipline  to  keep  me 
low,  '  for  pride  is  apt  to  rise  and  swell.'  I  sin- 
cerely wish  you  Divine  support  under  this  recent 
trial,  and  every  other  that  Infinite  Wisdom  shall 
allot  you.  I  hope  you  will  enjoy  much  of  your 
Saviour's  presence,  and  press  forward  with  new 
zeal,  and  soon  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
work  of  the  Lord  prospering  around  you.  I  trust 
the  revival  in  Boston  will  reach  your  church. 

"  May  you  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  your 
dear  children,  as  they  rise  up  into  life,  becoming 
truly  pious !  May  they  be  ornaments  to  the 
church,  and  useful  members  of  society  ! 

"  The  accounts  of  revivals  of  religion  in  different 
parts  of  our  land,  are  very  cheering.  I  wish  I 
could  tell  you  that  a  great  revival  of  religion  had 
commenced  here  ;  but  I  cannot.  And  yet  there 
is  *  a  still  small  voice  ?  among  us.  In  the  North 
Society  many  are  asking  the  way  to  Zion,  and 
about  twenty  are  rejoicing  in  hope,  and  several,  in 
our  society  and  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  are 
awakened.  Many  Christians  are  aroused  to 
greater  faithfulness.  Our  meetings  are  crowded 
and  solemn.  Mr.  Williams  is  much  engaged. 
His  sermons  are  very  clear  and  solemn.  I  hope  a 
brighter  day  is  dawning.  Seven  little  boys  are  so 
much  impressed  with  serious  things,  as  to  meet  by 


56  MEMOIK    OF 

themselves  for  prayer,  one  evening  in  the  week. 
Some  aged  people  are  alarmed.  Do  pray  for  us ; 
we  need  prayer,  for  the  multitude  are  going  the 
downward  road. 

"  Your  kind  offer  of  sending  some  tracts  from 
your  society,  will  be  gratefully  accepted.  A 
large  field  of  usefulness  for  them  opens,  but  I 
wish  not  to  intrude. 

"  Accept  much  love  from 
"  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

j.  a.j> 

The  following  is  a  record  of  "  a  walk  of  use- 
fulness :  " 

11  October  9th,  1823.  — At  2  o'clock,  in  the 
afternoon,  set  out  with  Mrs.  M.  T.  to  call  at  some 
houses  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  to  inquire 
for  any  families  who  were  destitute  of  Bibles,  and 
unable  to  purchase  them.  We  made  nine  calls ; 
saw  some  Christian  friends,  and  had  pleasant  inter- 
views with  them.  We  were  treated  with  kindness 
by  all  we  visited.  .  Conversed  with  two  females, 
who  indulged  in  the  habit  of  intemperance.  We 
said  much  to  them  upon  the  importance  of  their 
immediate  repentance  and  reformation.  We  en- 
deavored to  persuade  them  to  forsake  their  sins, 
and  fly  to  the  arms  of  mercy.  One  of  them  shed 
many  tears,  and  said  it  seemed  to  her,  that  the 


* 

NIVERSIT 

MRS.    JANE    GREEN^EAF.  57 


more  trouble  she  had,  the  more  hafdened  she 
grew.  We  left  a  tract  with  her,  and  walked  on 
to  see  the  other  woman,  who  is  far  advanced  in 
years,  and  has  almost  lost  her  sight,  and  seemed 
rather  insensible  ;  but  she  shewed  us  her  Bible 
and  hymn  'book,  and  said  her  husband  read  to 
her.  She  seemed  desirous  to  have  some  tracts  ; 
we  left  her  a  few.  *  The  advantages  of  Drunken- 
ness '  was  one,  hoping  it  may  be  blessed  for  her 
everlasting  benefit. 

"  One  Christian  friend,  on  whom  we  called,  had 
been  in  great  outward  trouble,  and  it  seemed  as 
though  she  had  derived  much  spiritual  benefit 
from  her  afflictions.  She  lamented  the  low  state 
of  religion  around  her.  She  said  she  looked  for- 
ward to  the  Sabbath  with  increased  satisfaction,  as 
she  could  not  now  enjoy  the  privilege  of  meetings 
during  the  week,  as  they  were  given  up  in  that 
neighborhood.  Our  time  failed  us,  or  we  should 
have  gone  to  many  more  places  ;  but  hope  to  go 
again  before*  winter." 

To  Miss  M.  H.  A.,  of  Andover. 

"  Newburyport,  Jan.  6,  1824. 
"  MY  DEAR   MlSS   A., 

1  1  1  am  much  interested  in  the  solemnity  begun 
in  the  South  Parish  in  A.  Hope  it  will  result  in  a 
powerful  revival  of  religion,  and  extend  to  your 


58  .101K    OF 

parish,  and  to  all  the  towns  around.  We  have 
been  in  a  very  cold  state  for  a  long  time.  I  can- 
not but  hope  some  Christians  feel  more  engaged- 
ness  in  prayer,  and  are  beginning  to  do  something 
for  the  salvation  of  perishing  sinners  around  us ; 
but  alas !  alas !  we  are  all  too  cold,  too  indifferent 
in  a  cause  so  glorious. 

"  I  have  been  reading  Henry  Martyn's  Life, 
which  has  excited  some  new  desires  in  my  cold 
heart,  to  try  to  be  more  faithful  in  warning  sin- 
ners of  their  danger,  and  endeavoring  to  let  my 
light  shine  more ;  for,  if  I  am  what  I  profess  to 
be,  I  ought  to  feel  that  I  am  as  *  a  city  set  on  a 
hill,  which  cannot  be  hid.' 

"  I  have  to  mourn  over  my  declension  and 
deadness ;  but  let  us,  my  dear,  arise,  and  plead 
with  God,  that  he  will  revive  his  work  every- 
where. 

"  I  hope  your  night  of  darkness  is  passing  away, 
and  that  the  Sun  of  righteousness  will  arise  with 
healing  in  his  wings. 

"  Although  all  our  churches  are  in  a  low  state, 
we  have  had  one  instance  of  hopeful  conversion  in 
our  society  recently.  The  person  referred  to  is 
an  aged  man,  who,  I  am  told,  appears  well.  We 
must  not  be  discouraged  respecting  any  of  our 
aged  friends,  but  pray  for  them  more  fervently. 
I  see  before  me  an  aged  husband,  *  dead  in  tres_ 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  59 

passes  and  sins,'  and,  at  times,  almost  despair  of 
his  salvation ;  but  anon,  I  begin  to  hope  in  the 
mercy  and  grace  of  God  for  him.  Will  you  pray 
for  him,  and  for  my  dear  son,  who  is  now  with  us  ? 
He  is  outwardly  moral,  and  his  principles  very 
sound ;  but  0  !  his  heart  remains  shut  against  the 
precious  Saviour. 

"  Accept  much  love  from  your  friend, 

J.  G." 

To  Mrs.  M.    C.,   of  D.,   while  on  a  visit  to 
England. 

"  Newburyport,  Feb.  26,  1826. 

44  MY  DEAR  MRS.  C., 

"  I  hope  and  trust  that,  before  this  time,  you 
are  all  safely  landed  in  London,  or  near  that  city. 
As  Mr.  C.  has  so  long  been  planning  and  wishing 
to  visit  his  friends  across  the  Atlantic,  I  have  con- 
sidered it  a  very  favorable  time  for  you  to  go,  and 
I  trust  you  will  be  preserved,  and  prospered,  and 
returned  in  due  season,  and  meet  your  dear  chil- 
dren and  friends  in  peace. 

"  Perhaps  we  never  realize  our  dependence  so 
much  as  when  on  a  journey  or  voyage.  We  then 
See  whose  hand  guides  our  every  movement.  0  ! 
what  protecting  power  and  mercy  we  experience 
in  every  vicissitude  !  And  though  our  distrustful 
hearts  often  anticipate  much  distress,  which  never 


60 


MEMOIR    OP 


overtakes  us,  yet,  alas  !  how  prone  are  we  to 
'  borrow  trouble  ! '  Thus  far,  your  dear  chil- 
dren have  been  wonderfully  preserved,  and 
I  hope  you  will  have  great  cause  for  grati- 
tude when  you  meet,  and  look  over  the  way  in 
which  the  Lord  has  led  you  all  during  your  sepa- 
ration. 

"  Some  of  our  dear  friends  have  left  us  recently. 
Aunt  B.  was  called  very  suddenly,  without  pre- 
vious illness,  though  I  think  she  has  been  failing 
for  years.  Uncle  feels  his  loss,  and  says  he  shall 
soon  follow  her. 

"In  about  two  weeks  after,  Aunt  C.  was  taken 
with  a  lung  fever,  and  died  in  a  few  days.  Her 
loss  is  great  to  the  cause  of  Zion,  and  indeed  to 
the  world.  At  her  decease,  I  had  thirty  dollars 
of  hers  in  my  hands  for  the  Domestic  Missionary 
Society.  Let  us  hope  and  pray  that  her  mantle 
may  rest  on  my  dear  uncle.  He  is  much  softened, 
and  feels  this  stroke  sensibly.  I  hope  you  will 
pray  much  for  him.  He  seems  to  be  pleased  with 
hearing  of  aunt's  alms-deeds.  The  poor  have 
lost  a  friend  indeed.  Our  hands  are  weakened  as 
a  church.  First,  Lydia  Titcomb  was  removed, 
who  had  been,  of  late  years,  very  much  en- 
gaged in  religion.  Now  aunt  C.,  who  was  always 
ready  to  give  for  every  good  cause.  But  God 


MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF.          61 

can  raise  up  others  to  stand  in  the  gap,  and  to 
make  up  the  hedge. 

"  Your  people  are  sending  up  many  prayers  for 
you.  A  few  weeks  since,  the  female  members 
of  your  church  held  a  fast  on  your  account,  to 
pray  for  a  blessing  to  attend  you.  What  greater 
expression  of  their  real  friendship  could  you  wish 
or  desire  ?  Mr.  C.  has  the  satisfaction  of  having 
a  most  affectionate  people,  to  feel  for  him  and  you, 
under  your  burdens.  0 !  I  hope  you  will  be  per- 
mitted to  meet  them  again  in  peace  and  health, 
and  long  enjoy  their  friendship. 

"  When  we  see  such  answers  to  fervent  prayer, 
how  strange  it  is  that  we  are  so  apt  to  grow 
cold  and  formal  in  this  duty !  '  Prayer  ar- 
dent opens  Heaven.'  Let  us  be  more  and  more 
excited  to  this  pleasant  duty.  I  am  so  often 
prevented,  by  sickness,  from  meeting  my  Christian 
friends,  that  the  throne  of  grace  is  more  endeared 
to  me  of  late  years  ;  and  yet  I  often  feel  mourn- 
fully cold  in  this  duty. 

"  We  hear  that  Christians  are  more  engaged 
in  Boston,  and  that  some  sinners  have  been 
awakened.  In  Ipswich  there  is  considerable  at- 
tention to  religion.  Also,  in  Mr.  Parker's  soci- 
ety, in  Deny,  (N.  H.) 

11  As  life  is  so  short  and  uncertain,  we  may  not 
meet  again  here ;  but  I  hope  we  shall,  through 
6 


62  MEMOIR    OF        f 

boundless  grace,  meet  in  that  world,  where  every 
tear  shall  be  wiped  from  our  eyes.  All  I  can 
do  for  you  and  your  dear  children,  is  to  pre- 
sent you  daily  to  the  God  of  mercy  and  grace, 
who  can  preserve  and  bless  you.  Do  pray  for  us. 
11  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

J.  G." 


MES.    JANE    GREBNLBAF.  63 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"Brethren,  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God,  for  Israel, 
is,  that  they  might  he  saved."  — KOM.  x.  1. 

IT  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  devoted  Friday,  of  each  week,  to 
special  supplication  for  particular  persons,  of  whom 
she  kept  a  list.  Her  interest,  in  their  spiritual 
welfare,  led  her,  also,  to  address  many  individuals, 
by  letter,  in  order  to  press  upon  them  the  claims 
of  personal  religion.  Her  correspondence,  of  this 
kind,  was  constant  and  extensive.  Frequently  did 
the  midnight  hour  find  her  employed  in  this  way. 
That  she  was  qualified  for  such  a  mode  of  useful- 
ness, the  following  letters  will  show.  That  these 
expressions  of  Christian  love  and  solicitude  were, 
generally,  acceptable  and  valued,  is  well  attested. 

Letter  to  T.  (7.,  Esq.,  of  Newluryport. 

"  Presuming  on  your  goodness  to  forgive  this 
intrusion,  I  take  my  pen  to  address  a  few  lines  to 
you,  sir,  upon  the  interesting  subject  of  real  re- 
ligion. 

"  I  venerated  your  father ;  and  I  do  not  give  up 


64  MEMOIR   OF 

the  pleasing  hope,  which  I  have  entertained  for 
many  years,  that  you,  his  beloved  son,  may  be- 
come truly  pious,  and  preach  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel to  perishing  sinners. 

"  Your  father  and  mine,  I  doubt  not,  are  now  in 
glory,  among  saints  and  angels,  praising  God  and 
the  Lamb.  They  were  made  holy  in  time,  and 
prepared  for  that  pure  world,  where  no  unholy 
thing  can  enter.  Let  us  be  excited  to  follow  their 
steps,  remembering  that  we  must  have  a  new  prin- 
ciple implanted  in  our  souls  here,  or  we  should  be 
wretched  in  Heaven. 

"  What  is  this  world,  if  we  could  possess  the 
whole  of  it,  but  *  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  ? ' 

1  Our  very  wishes  give  us  not  our  wish.' 

Our  souls  were  made  to  live  for  ever ;  and,  when 
a  few  more  days,  or  years,  are  gone,  we  must 
enter  on  a  vast  Eternity.  If  we  considered,  daily, 
that  we  act  for  Eternity,  how  would  it  influence 
us  to  forsake  every  sin,  and  to  *  strive  to  enter 
into  the  straight  gate  ! ' 

"When  I  hear  that  Mr.  C.  attends  this  and  that 
lecture  in  the  week,  I  begin  to  think  that  your 
dear  father's  prayers  will  be  answered,  and  that 
you  are  to  be  called  into  the  sheepfold  of  Christ. 
What  a  shining  Christian  you  may  yet  make ! 
Let  me  entreat  you  to  engage  on  the  Lord's  side 


MRS.    JANE    GllEENLEAF.  65 

with  all  your  heart ;  read  the  Bible,  and  pray  ; 
attend  the  most  lively  means  of  grace  ;  ask  for  the 
teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  forsake  every  sin, 
and  soon  you  may  find  *  the  pearl  of  great  price.' 
How  honorable  will  it  be  to  tread  in  the  steps  of 
your  departed  father,  by  devoting  your  talents  to 
the  glory  of  Grod !  But  we  must  forsake  every 
sin,  and  every  idol,  if  we  would  obtain  that  rest, 
which  is  prepared  only  for  those  who  are  *  pure 
in  heart.'  We  must  flee  from  every  temptation, 
and  set  out,  as  Bunyan's  pilgrim  did,  from  the 
city  of  destruction,  and  resolve  that  we  will  not 
turn  back.  If  we  are  ever  tempted  to  think 
lightly  of  sin,  let  us  look  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  — 
there  we  may  learn  its  infinite  evil.  But,  per- 
haps, Mr.  C.  thinks  that  to  pass  through  this 
mighty  change  of  heart,  of  which  I  have  been 
writing,  is  not  essential  to  salvation.  Let  us, 
however,  look  into  the  Word  of  truth,  and  see 
how  it  is  represented  there.  It  is  called  '  being 
born  again/  —  'made  a  new  creature,'  —  'pass- 
ing from  death  unto  life,'  —  'being  born  of  the 
spirit.'  If  your  father  were  now  on  earth,  I  be- 
lieve he  would  explode  this  new  divinity,  which  is 
termed  liberality  of  sentiment.  I  sat  under  his 
ministry  for  several  years,  and  expect  to  give  an 
account  hereafter  of  the  improvement  I  made  of 
his  faithful  preaching.  He  used  often  to  close  his 
6* 


66  MEMOIR   OF 

sermons  in  this  way  :  *  I  have  set  life  and  death 
before  you ;  choose  you  this  day  whom  you  will 
serve.' 

"  For  many  years  I  have  had  a  great  desire  for 
your  real  conversion,  and  I  could  not  resist  the 
impulse  I  have  felt  to  take  this  method  of  address- 
ing you  on  this  great  subject.  When  I  think  of 
the  worth  of  one  immortal  soul,  I  am  willing  to 
lay  aside  all  ceremony,  and  to  be  called  a  fanatic, 
if  I  may  be  the  humble  instrument  of  awakening 
any  to  seek  for  '  the  pearl  of  great  price.'  Sepa- 
rate from  our  future  happiness,  c  virtue  carries  its 
own  reward  with  it.'  To  *  fear  God  and  keep 
his  commandments  is  the  whole  duty  of  man.' 
The  true  penitent  is  the  only  happy  man. 

"  I  know  that  the  spirit  of  God  only  can  convince 
us  of  the  importance  of  eternal  realities ;  but  we 
are  free  agents,  and  are  commanded  to  seek  for 
wisdom  *  as  for  silver,  and  search  for  it  as  for  hid 
treasure.'  Our  Saviour  says,  '  Ask,  and  you 
shall  receive  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find  ; '  but  our 
misery  is  that  we  will  not  leave  this  vain,  dying 
world,  for  joys  that  will  last  for  ever. 
"  Your  friend, 

J.  G." 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  a  young 
man  who  had  contracted  intemperate  habits  :  — 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  67 

"  You  will,  I  presume,  excuse  the  liberty  I  arn 
now  taking  of  addressing  you  in  this  way,  when  I 
tell  you  that  the  purest  motives  of  friendship  lead 
nie  to  undertake  a  duty  really  self-denying.  Your 
best  interest  lies  near  my  heart ;  and  it  is  with 
reluctance  that  I  am  willing  to  give  heed  to  the 

report  in  circulation,  that  Mr. is  giving  in  to 

the  fatal  habit  of  intemperance.  I  hope  you  will, 
immediately,  see  your  danger,  and  take  a  firm 
stand  against  this  most  pernicious  vice.  It  is  the 
more  destructive,  as  I  believe  those,  who  are 
caught  in  the  snare,  are  drawn  on  insensibly. 
They  little  think  how  soon  this  habit  may  be  fixed, 
ere  they  are  aware  of  their  danger ;  and,  from  my 
observation,  no  vice  has  so  direct  a  tendency  to 
deaden  the  conscience,  and  shut  out  the  soul  from 
serious  reflection.  Indeed,  when  persons  first  be- 
gin to  go  this  downward  road,  they  have,  at  times, 
bitter  remorse,  and  pungent  distress ;  and,  to  get 
rid  of  their  remorse,  they  often  repair  to  the  fatal 
expedient  of  drowning  their  sorrows  by  another 
glass.  0  !  my  friend  ;  if  you  have  begun  to  take 
one  step  in  this  downward  road,  let  me  urge  you 
to  stop,  and  consider  your  ways,  before  you  are 
totally  undone.  The  grand  enemy  of  souls  is,  at 
this  day,  I  believe,  trying  to  ruin  many  of  our 
promising  youth  in  this  way.  The  warnings  to 
those,  who  are  beginning  to  walk  this  awful  road, 


68  MEMOIR   OF 

have  been  repeated  and  most  solemn,  during  the 
past  season ;  and,  if  our  hearts  were  not  adamant, 
we  must  feel  them.  God  will  come  out  in  ven- 
geance if  we  do  not  repent  and  forsake  our  sins. 
I  feel  for  you,  and  for  every  one  who  has  got  into 
this  fatal  snare  \  but  as  I  trust  you  have  just 
begun,  I  do  entreat  you  to  stop  before  you  are 
lost  for  ever.  Think  of  your  reputation,  your 
property,  but,  above  all,  of  your  immortal  soul, 
which  is  of  more  value  than  a  thousand  worlds. 
How  dreadful  the  thought  of  meeting  your  Judge 
unprepared ;  and  if  this  course  is  persisted  in,  it 
will,  most  assuredly,  land  you  in  that  world  of 
woe,  where  no  ray  of  hope  will  ever  dawn.  But 
I  hope  better  things  of  you,  though  I  thus  speak. 

I  cannot  bear  the  thought  that  any  of  Mrs. 's 

children  should  be  lost.  How  many  prayers  have 
been  offered  up  for  you  !  How  would  your  dear 
mother  weep  over  you,  could  she  return  back  to 
this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow  !  If  you  perish,  your 
doom  will  be  dreadful,  after  such  instruction.  The 
blessed  Redeemer  stands  ready  to  receive  you,  and 
every  returning,  repenting  sinner ;  but  the  door  of 
mercy  will  soon  be  shut.  God's  patience  will  not 
last  always  ;  the  day  of  grace  will  be  quickly  past, 
and  then,  if  you  begin  to  seek  for  mercy,  it  will 
be  in  vain.  You  have  now  a  space  given  you  for 
repentance.  Let  me  entreat  you  to  turn  from 


MBS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  69 

your  sins,  and  live  for  ever.  I  do  most  seriously 
advise  you  to  leave  all  companions  who  are  a 
temptation  to  you ;  dash  the  tempting  glass  from 
you ;  determine  not  to  be  enslaved  by  a  vice  so 
pernicious,  (may  I  not  add  ?)  so  disgraceful. 
Little  do  sensible  men  realize  how  "they  appear  in 
fits  of  intoxication.  They  often  then  seem  like 
the  greatest  fools.  They  are  not  only  wretched 
themselves,  but  they  make  their  friends  miserable 
also.  I  heard  a  good  woman  say  that,  by  taking 
brandy  for  her  health,  she  began  to  love  it,  and 
she  found  that  she  and  her  family  were  in  danger 
of  being  ruined.  She  then  banished  all  ardent 
spirit  from  the  house,  took  her  Bible,  read  and 
prayed,  until  she  was  enabled  to  overcome  the 
habit. 

"  A  friend  once  sent  for  me,  and  told  me  she 
felt  as  if  she  should  die,  unless  she  drank  brandy 
to  excess,  and  she  wanted  my  advice.  I  told  her 
it  was  a  good  cause  to  die  in,  and  advised  her  to 
die  rather  than  taste  of  it.  Now,  my  friend,  I 
wish  you  may  be  enabled  to  make  the  resolution, 
and  look  to  God  for  a  blessing,  and  determine  to 
conquer,  or  die  in  the  cause.  I  am  serious.  It 
is  a  solemn  matter.  You  will  be  ruined,  if  you 
persist  a  little  longer.  You  may  be  cut  off  sud- 
denly, as  your  brother  was.  0  !  I  do  hope  and 
pray  that  you  may  be  enabled  to  resist  every  temp- 


70  MEMOiH   OF 

tation,  and  become  a  new  man.  Take  the  Bible 
for  your  guide  ;  forsake  vain  companions ;  seet, 
earnestly,  that  religion,  which  alone  can  make  you 
happy  here  and  hereafter. 

"I  trust  you  will  receive  this  advice  as  it  is 
intended,  in  love.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  I 
desire  your  best  interest.  If  I  have  said  anything 
to  wound  your  feelings,  I  hope  you  will  forgive 
me.  I  meant  not  to  hurt,  but  to  try  to  save  you. 
I  must  now  bid  you,  adieu.  Perhaps  we  never 
shall  meet,  till  we  appear  before  the  bar  of  judg- 
ment with  the  assembled  universe.  Then  you 
will  not  be  able  to  say,  I  did  not  warn  you  of 
your  danger.  But  I  hope  we  shall  meet,  and 
spend  an  eternity  together  in  celebrating  redeem- 
ing love.  I  think  it  not  best  to  add  my  name, 
but  only 

YOUK  WELL-WISHER." 

To  Mr.  J.  C.j  of  Newluryport. 

" ,  1818. 

"  MY  DEAR  UNCLE, 

"As  I  have  long  wanted  to  converse  with 
you  alone  upon  the  all-important  subject  of  re- 
ligion, and  no  opportunity  has  presented,  I  hope 
you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  am  now  taking  of 
communicating  some  of  my  thoughts  in  this  way. 

11  My  dear  father  was  greatly  anxious  respecting 


you,  during  the  last  years  of  h&^lifS;  ,and  wished 
to  converse  freely  with  you.  Perhaps  he  did,  after 
he  expressed  his  feelings  to  me.  He  once  told 
me  he  hoped  you  had  experienced  a  real  change  of 
heart.  I  believe  he  was  much  engaged  in  prayer 
for  you,  and  he  seemed  to  give  you  up  in  faith, 
trusting  God  would  answer  his  petitions  in  his  own 
way  and  time.  When  I  reflect  upon  the  shortness 
of  time,  and  the  worth  of  the  soul,  and  the  impor- 
tance of  improving  the  day  of  grace  while  it  lasts, 
—  for  God  says,  *  My  spirit  shall  not  always  strive 
with  man/  —  I  am  astonished  at  my  own  stu- 
pidity, and  constrained  to  lay  aside  all  ceremony, 
and  beg  my  friends  to  be  up  and  doing,  and  not 
rest  easy  while  uncertain  about  their  future  state. 
I  know  it  is  God  only  who  can  change  our  hearts  ; 
but  he  says,  *  For  these  things  I  will  be  inquired 
of  by  the  house  of  Israel  to  do  it  for  them.'  I 
feel  that  It  is  a  matter  of  great  importance  that 
you  and  aunt  K.  should  know  to  which  class  you 
belong  ;  for  Christ  says,  *  He  that  gathereth  not 
with  me  scattereth  abroad/  If  you,  my  dear 
uncle,  are  upon  the  Lord's  side,  I  wish  that  your 
evidences  may  be  made  clear,  and  that  you  may  be 
enabled  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table.  I  have  felt 
a  great  desire  to  have  you  attend  the  inquiry  meet- 
ing. I  think,  if  you  heard  others  converse  upon 
their  experiences,  your  doubts  might  be  cleared 


72  MEMOIR    OF 

up.  As  the  weather  is  now  growing  warm,  I 
hope  you  will  be  vinduced  to  go ;  for  God  works 
with  means  and  by  means,  and  this  is  a  day  when 
the  Spirit  of  God  seems  to  be  among  us.  My 
father  spent  much  time  in  retirement  during  the 
last  years  of  his  life.  I  believe  that  secret  prayer 
has  a  direct  tendency  to  draw  us  near  to  God. 
My  grandmother  used  to  say  that  we  must  pray 
for  a  heart  to  pray. 

"When  persons  have  been  trained  from  their 
youth  in  a  religious  manner,  as  you  have  been, 
grace  is  oftentimes  implanted  in  a  silent  manner, 
and  we  perceive  the  change  only  by  its  effects. 
Will  you  permit  me  to  ask  you  a  few  questions  by 
way  of  trial?  Have  you  been  brought  to  see 
yourself  lost  and  undone,  and  that  it  would  be 
just  in  God  to  cast  you  off  for  ever  ?  Does  sin 
appear  exceeding  sinful  as  committed  against  a 
holy  God  ?  Have  you  been  enabled  to  cast  your 
perishing  soul  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  resolving  that 
if  you  perish  you  will  perish  there  ?  Is  it  your 
greatest  desire  to  live  to  the  glory  of  God  ?  Do 
you  love  the  house  of  God,  and  the  people  of 
God  ?  Are  not  some  passages  of  Scripture  some- 
times opened  up  to  you  in  a  clear  manner  ?  I 
hope  you  can  appeal  to  the  Searcher  of  hearts  and 
say,  if  your  heart  does  not  deceive  you,  you  can 
answer  these  questions  in  the  affirmative.  If  you 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  73 

cannot,  my  dear  uncle,  I  sincerely  hope  you  will 
never  rest  easy  till  you  do  find  that  your  peace  is 
made  with  Grod  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  We  all 
have  our  various  cares  and  trials  ;  but  '  one  thing 
is  needful.'  It  is  our  duty  to  take  a  prudent  care 
of  the  things  of  this  world  ;  but  our  supreme  con- 
cern ought  to  be  to  live  to  the  glory  of  Grod. 

"  When  your  beloved  son  and  daughter  were 
taken  away,  you  manifested  such  quietness  that  I 
hoped  it  was  real  submission  to  God's  will.  I  am 
not  willing  you  should  go  without  assurance  in 
your  declining  years.  I  feel  unworthy  to  speak 
to  you  upon  these  great  and  important  matters ; 
but  my  desires  are  very  earnest  that  you  may 
enjoy  the  real  comforts  of  religion.  As  you  see 
my  motive,  I  hope  you  will  excuse  the  freedom  I 
have  taken. 

"I  wish  you  would  be  willing  to  write  me  a  few 
lines,  and  let  me  know  the  state  of  your  mind. 
It  would  be  a  great  relief  to  me  to  know  that  you 
entertain  a  well  grounded  Rope  that  you  have 
passed  from  death  unto  life.  It  seems  to  me  that 
you  and  others  are  losing  much  comfort  by  keep- 
ing your  thoughts  to  yourselves.  That  is  one 
reason  that  I  want  you  to  attend  the  inquiry  meet- 
ing. It  has  been  blessed  to  others ;  it  may  be 
blessed  to  you.  These  precious  opportunities  will 
7 


74 


OF 


soon  be  over  with  us  all.  0  !  how  important  is  it 
that  we  should  improve  every  means  of  grace,  as 
death  may  be  near. 

"  Will  you  accept  my  best  wishes  for  your 
everlasting  welfare  ? 

"  Your  friend  and  niece, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 

To  Mrs.  B.y  of  Newburyport. 

"July  12,  1839. 

"  MY  DEAR  FRIEND, 

4 '  I  have  intended  for  a  long  time  to  call  and 
see  you;  but  want  of  health  and  a  variety  of 
other  things,  have  prevented  me.  Now,  lest  I 
should  not  be  able  to  call,  I  take  the  liberty  to 
send  you  a  little  tract,  which,  if  you  do  not 
already  own  it,  you  will  accept  and  read  often.  I 
consider  young  mothers  as  having  a  very  weighty 
charge  to  bring  up  their  dear  little  children  in  the 
right  way ;  for  it  is  a  true  saying,  '  Just  as  the 
twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined.' 

"  I  never  thought  I  had  any  skill  in  training 
my  children  ;  but  what  was  wanting  in  skill  I  de- 
termined to  make  up,  as  far  as  possible,  in  strict- 
ness. I  used  to  be  very  strict  with  them  on  the 
Sabbath.  I  knew  if  I  neglected  to  instruct  them 
respecting  keeping  holy  this  sacred  day,  that  as 


MKS.    JA^E    6REENLEAF. 


75 


they  grew  up  they  would  be  likely  to  plunge  into 
every  sin.  I  hope  you  and  Mr.  B.  will  be  en- 
abled to  train  up  your  dear  children  in  the  fear  of 
the  Lord.  Children  need  '  line  upon  line,  and 
precept  upon  precept,'  for  we  are  all  inclined  to 
backslide  from  God.  I  hope  you  will  be  enabled 
to  pray  with  and  for  them.  Dr.  Buckminster 
used  fro  remark  that  '  a  family  could  not  be  gov- 
erned without  family  prayer.'  The  souls  of  chil- 
dren seem  to  be  committed  to  the  care  of  mothers. 

"  I  have  dwelt,  my  dear  Mrs.  B.,  upon  your 
responsibility  as  a  parent,  but  my  ardent  desire  is 
to  urge  you  and  Mr.  B.  to  give  up  yourselves 
unreservedly  to  the  service  of  God.  Let  me  per- 
suade you  without  any  delay  to  resolve  that,  '  as 
for  you  and  your  house,  you  will  serve  the  Lord.' 
*  Here,'  as  Dr.  Young  says,  *  is  solid  rock  ;  all  is 
sea  beside.'  Everything  is  ready  on  God's  part; 
but  we  must  come  as  beggars,  and  be  in  earnest. 
'  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive ;  seek,  and  ye  shall 
find;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you.' 
'  The  kingdom  of  Heaven  suffereth  violence  ;  and 
the  violent  take  it  by  force.' 

u  I  have  always  greatly  desired  the  salvation  of 
all  your  family.  I  hope  the  time  draws  nigh  when 
you  will  all  become  the  disciples  of  the  meek  and 
lowly  Saviour. 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

"  When  you  can  get  a  little  leisure,  do  come 
up  and  see  us.     I  Lope  you  will  receive  this  im- 
perfect letter  as  a  token  of  sincere  regard  from 
"  Your  real  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 

Note  to  a  Sick  Neighbor. 

"DEAR    SlR, 

"  I  sympathize  with  you  in  all  your  afflictions  ; 
and  as  I  cannot  see  and  converse  with  you,  I  take 
the  liberty  to  write  a  few  lines,  which  I  hope  will 
be  kindly  received. 

"  We  are  all  sinners,  and  can  have  no  hope  of 
being  saved,  except  through  Christ.  I  hope  you 
will  be  enabled  to  apply  to  him,  and  exercise  true 
repentance  for  all  your  sins.  Let  me  urge  you  to 
offer  the  prayer  of  the  publican,  '  God,  be  merci- 
ful to  me,  a  sinner ;  '  and,  without  delay,  seek 
with  all  your  heart  an  interest  in  the  Saviour's 
love.  He  waits  to  be  gracious  to  the  returning, 
repenting  sinner.  Life  is  very  uncertain  with  all 
of  us ;  but  in  this  life  only  can  we  prepare  for 
that  eternity,  to  which  we  are  all  rapidly  hasten- 
ing. 

"  All  I  can  do  is  to  commend  you  to  God,  be- 
seeching him  to  have  mercy  on  you.  I  have  a 
sincere  regard  for  you  and  your  family,  and  hope 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  t  I 

you  will  all  be  prepared  for  that  blessed  world, 
where  sin  can  never  enter,  and  where,  of  course, 
there  will  be  no  sickness  or  sorrow. 
'*  Your  friend, 

J.  G." 

To  Mrs.  G.y  of  Cambridgeport. 

"  Newburyport,  June  23, 1835. 
"  DEAR  FRIEND, 

"  I  have  long  intended  writing  a  few  lines  to 
you,  and  now  I  will  delay  no  longer.  I  do  not 
forget  my  old  acquaintance,  if  they  forget  me. 

"  Your  cares  must  be  many,  and  very  pressing  ; 
but  I  most  earnestly  desire  to  hear  that  you  have 
become  a  real  friend  and  follower  of  the  meek  and 
lowly  Saviour.  I  used  to  consider  you  as  almost 
a  Christian,  many  years  ago.  You  need  help 
from  above  to  guide  you  in  training  up  your  dear 
children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord.  I  rejoice  to  find  that  you  have  a  pious 
companion  to  help  you  along  under  your  burdens. 

"  If  you  have  not  good  evidence  that  your  heart 
has  been  renewed  and  sanctified,  let  me  entreat 
you  to  begin  in  earnest  to  seek  the  salvation  of 
your  soul.  Everything  is  ready  on  God's  part ; 
but  we  must  come  as  beggars,  and  take  the  offered 
mercy.  Christ  says,  'Ask,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive,' &c.  And  again,  '  The  kingdom  of 
7* 


78 


MEMOIR    OF 


Heaveii  suffereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it 
by  force.'  This  world  is  only  a  state  of  trial, 
not  of  rest.  Christians  have  peculiar  trials ;  but 
they  have  at  times  a  peace  that  the  world  cannot 
give  or  take  away. 

"  I  want  you,  dear  friend,  to  become  decided. 
It  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  importance.  The 
most  of  your  family  are  now,  we  believe,  real 
Christians ;  and  why  are  you  willing  to  stay  be- 
hind? Come,  cast  in  your  lot  with  them,  and 
devote  your  all  to  the  glory  of  God.  Pious 
mothers  can  do  great  things  for  their  dear  chil- 
dren. I  think  you  would  be  a  shining  Christian, 
if  you  had  a  good  hope,  through  grace,  that  your 
peace  was  made  with  God. 

"  You  must  excuse  my  freedom  in  writing  to 
you  so  freely.     In  years  past,  I  used  to  talk  with 
you,  and  you  always  seemed  to  be  willing  to  hear 
what  I  had  to  say.     You  have  passed   through 
many  different  scenes  since,  and  so  have  I ;  but 
as  we  may  never  meet  in  this  world,  I  feel  con- 
strained to  address  you  in  this  way,  as  I  consider 
myself  far  on  my  journey  to  the  world  of  spirits. 
"  Accept  the  best  wishes  of 
"  Your  sincere  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  79 

In  about  four  years  after  this  letter  was  writ- 
ten, the  friend  to  whom  it  was  addressed  was 
made  a  hopeful  subject  of  renewing  grace. 

The  letter  which  follows  was  written  in  answer 
to  one  from  the  lady's  sister,  communicating  the 
pleasing  intelligence. 

"  Newburyport,  June  5, 1839. 
"  MY  DEAR  YOUNG  FRIEND, 

"  Your  welcome  and  interesting  letter  reached 
me  safely  last  week;  I  thank  you  for  it.  It 
rejoiced  my  heart  to  hear  that  your  dear  sister, 
Mrs.  Gr.,  had  been  enabled  to  accept  of  offered 
mercy,  after  refusing  the  blessings  of  the  gospel 
so  long.  We  see  in  her  case  the  faithfulness  of 
God  to  his  promise,  "  I  will  be  a  Grod  to  thee, 
and  thy  seed  after  thee."  Your  dear  departed 
mother,  no  doubt,  prayed  in  faith  for  the  salvation 
of  her  children,  and  her  husband,  and  many 
others.  Her  prayers  have  been  answered  in  the 
conversion  of  most  of  her  family ;  and  I  do  hope 
that  her  remaining  children  and  grandchildren  will 
soon  be  numbered  among  the  ransomed  flock  of 
Jesus.  I  want  you  to  give  my  love  to  your  sister, 
and  tell  her  I  hope  she  will  be  an  active  Christian, 
and  *  let  her  light  shine  before  others,  that  they, 
seeing  her  good  works,  may  glorify  her  Father 
who  is  in  Heaven.'  We  have  no  strength  of  our 


80 


MEMOIR    OF 


own ;  Lut  wo  must  loolc  to  Christ  continually  for 
new  strength  to  perform  new  duties. 

"While  she  enjoys  the  comforts  of  religion,  I 
hope  she  will  write  to  her  brothers  upon  this  im- 
portant subject;  she  may  be  the  instrument  of 
enlightening  their  minds.  We  must  try  to  do  our 
duty,  and  then  leave  all  events  with  God.  Wo 
all  find  that  the  Christian  life  is  a  warfare,  but 
there  is  a  glorious  prize  in  view. 

"  I  hope  the  revival  will  continue  to  progress  in 
Brewer.  I  believe  if  Christians  were  more  faith- 
ful in  urging  sinners  to  repentance,  we  should 
see  greater  things  around  us.  A  work  of  grace 
has  been  going  on  here  for  many  months.  Many 
have  been  wonderfully  changed.  Aged,  hardened 
sinners  have  been  called  out  of  darkness  into 
marvellous  light.  Of  late,  we  find  that  only  now 
and  then  one  is  awakened  and  hopefully  converted. 
We  ought  to  be  very  thankful  for  these  displays 
of  God's  grace,  and  that  there  seems  to  be  a  still 
small  voice  amongst  us. 

"  Accept  the  well  wishes  of 
"  Your  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  81 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"I  lore  the  Lord,  because  he  hath  heard  my  voice  and  my 
supplication.  Because  he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me, 
therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as  I  live." 

Ps.  cxvi.  1,  2. 

IN  the  spring  of  1826,  this  prayerful  mother 
had  the  unspeakable  joy  of  receiving  an  answer  to 
the  petitions  which,  for  more  than  twenty-eight 
years,  she  had  presented  to  the  "  hearer  of 
prayer  "  in  behalf  of  her  only  son.  Her  faith 
had  been  tried,  but  it  had  mot  failed.  Though 
the  blessing  had  tarried,  she  waited  for  it,  not 
slothfully,  but  with  patience  and  perseverance. 

He  had  been  from  home  most  of  the  time  for 
eight  years  previous  to  this  event.  During  his 
absence,  his  mother  wrote  to  him  frequently,  and 
in  all  her  letters  she  urged  him  to  attend  to  the 
concerns  of  his  soul.  Late  in  the  winter  of  1826, 
in  writing  to  him,  she  quoted  Prov.  xxix.  1 ;  "He 
that  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck, 
shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  without 
remedy."  The  Holy  Spirit  accompanied  the 
Word ;  and  he  immediatly  began  to  seek  the 
Lord  earnestly,  attending  the  meetings  for  re- 


OZ  MEMOIR    OF 

ligious  inquiry,  and  all  the  other  means  of  grace 
within  his  reach.  He  did  not,  however,  commu- 
nicate his  state  of  mind  to  his  mother,  until 
several  weeks  after,  when  he  hoped  he  had  been 
brought  out  of  darkness  into  God's  marvellous 
light. 

Never  can  the  writer  forget  the  evening  when 
his  letter,  announcing  his  hope  that  he  had  been 
"  born  again,"  was  received,  with  one  from  his 
uncle  expressing  the  same  opinion.  His  mother 
had  been  suffering  through  the  day  from  severe 
symptoms  of  fever,  and  hoped  for  an  undisturbed 
evening.  But  the  joyful  intelligence  was  soon 
communicated  to  her,  though  preceded  by  art  inti- 
mation of  the  tenor  of  it,  lest  a  sudden  announce- 
ment might  be  too  much  for  her  weak  state.  As 
she  listened  to  all  that  God  in  his  mercy  had  done 
for  her  son,  her  emotions  of  gratitude  exceeded 
her  powers  of  utterance,  and  as  she  afterwards 
said,  "  she  felt  as  if  she  should  die  of  joy  "  It 
was  the  joy  of  a  Christian  parent,  who  realized 
our  lost  condition  by  nature,  and  was  thoroughly 
persuaded  of  the  great  truth,  that  "  Except  a  man 
be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God;  "  and  who  could  now  say,  "  This,  my  son, 
was  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ;  and  was  lost,  and  is 
found." 

The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath.     Being  some- 


MBS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  83 

what  better,  though  still  unable  to  sit  up,  she 
spent  it  in  pleading  for  the  salvation  of  others ; 
and  in  the  evening  mentioned  so  many  for  whom 
she  had  offered  supplication,  that  even  to  have 
remembered  their  names  might  have  been  difficult, 
had  she  not  been  so  solicitous  for  their  spiritual 
welfare.  This  was  her  way  of  acknowledging 
Jehovah's  faithfulness  and  love  ty  testing  it  anew  ; 
like  an  old  divine  who  said,  "  If  the  Lord  will 
grant  me  this  favor  I  will  not  say,  as  beggars  do, 
I  will  never  come  again,  but  I  will  come  the 
more." 

In  the  next  letter  from  her  son,  he  stated  that 
he  had  given  up  his  hope,  thinking  he  had  been 
deceived.  This  only  renewed  the  earnestness  of 
her  prayers,  and  led  her  to  inquire  if  there  had 
not  been  something  wrong  in  herself,  in  the  man- 
ner of  her  receiving  the  first  intelligence.  After 
a  few  weeks  of  most  distressing  anxiety,  the  clouds 
dispersed,  and  he  rejoiced  in  God  "  with  exceed- 
ing joy-" 

In  a  few  months,  after  much  consideration  and 
prayer,  he  gave  up  business,  and  commenced 
studying  for  the  ministry.  His  advanced  age 
rendered  a  collegiate  course  inexpedient ;  but 
after  spending  two  years  in  the  classical  school, 
and  three  in  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Bangor, 


04  MEMOIR   OP 

(Me.,)  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  gospel 
ministry. 

In  reviewing  the  dealings  of  God  with  regard 
to  her  son,  she  often  spoke  of  his  faithfulness,  and 
encouraged  other  parents  to  continue  "  instant  in 
prayer  "  for  their  children,  reminding  them  that 
"  delays  were  not  denials"  It  is  worthy  of 
notice  that  the  day  on  which  he  hoped  he  was 
"  born  of  the  Spirit  "  was  that  which,  in  union 
with  another,  she  had  devoted  to  special  prayer 
for  him  and  another  near  relative,  in  which  she 
felt  encouraged  by  the  promise,  "If  two  of  you 
shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching  any  thing  that 
they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven."  "  While  they  are 
yet  speaking  I  will  hear." 

Her  maternal  solicitude  has  been  referred  to 
before.  She  taught  her  children  obedience  before 
their  recollection ;  and  while  she  was  always  mild 
and  affectionate  in  her  government,  she  was  at  the 
same  time  perfectly  inflexible  where  duty  to  God 
and  fidelity  to  the  souls  of  her  children  were  con- 
cerned. 

On  the  Sabbath  besides  requiring  them  to 
attend  public  worship  constantly,  she  spent  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  in  reading  to  them  from 
the  sacred  Scriptures  and  decidedly  evangelical 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  85 

works,    always  closing  with   their   repeating   the 
Assembly's  Catechism. 

Regarding  the  law  of  the  Sabbath  to  be  as 
binding  as  any  other  precept  of  the  Decalogue, 
she  required  of  all  under  her  control  a  strict  out- 
ward observance  of  it.  It  was  in  vain  to  entreat 
for  greater  liberty,  and  to  plead  the  example  of 
those  professed  Christians,  who  allowed  their 
children  to  walk  the  streets  on  the  Lord's  day, 
or  to  attend  at  places  of  worship  where  dangerous 
error  was  taught ;  or  to  frequent,  at  other  times, 
places  of  fashionable  amusement.  In  no  instance 
would  she  yield,  because  she  viewed  the  word  of 
God  as  furnishing  her  with  an  invariable  rule  in 
these  cases,  and,  therefore,  as  leaving  her  no  dis- 
cretionary power  in  relation  to  them. 

Believing  that  the  Sabbath  commenced  at  sun- 
set, and  continued  till  sunset,  she  required  it  to 
be  thus  observed.  But  she  deemed  it  improper 
to  rush  into  worldly  business  and  pleasure  as  soon 
as  the  sun  of  the  Sabbath  had  gone  down  ;  and 
consequently  she  did  not  allow  of  visiting  or 
labor  on  the  succeeding  evening.  She  often 
quoted  the  remark  of  her  grandmother,  that 
"  Saturday  evening  was  necessary  for  preparation, 
and  Sabbath  evening  for  meditation." 

The  nature  of  those  meditations  in  her  case  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  :  — 
8 


86  MEMOIR    OP 

FROM    HER   JOURNAL. 

"  Sabbath  Evening,  Dec.  13th,  1829.  — Com- 
munion. Though  I  have  not  wholly  recovered 
from  a  sprained  limb,  I  went  out.  Mr.  Proudfit 
seemed  to  be  much  enlarged  in  the  communion 
service.  I  was  delivered  from  anxious  cares 
which  I  feared  would  distress  me.  0 !  for 
stronger  faith  that  I  may  surmount  every  obstacle, 
which  hinders  my  advancement  in  the  divine 
life  !  " 

At  another  time,  after  some  temporal  deliver- 
ance, she  writes  :  — 

11  If  I  did  not  see  remarkable  mercy  in  these 
things,  I  should  be  blind  indeed.  I  hope  I  feel 
some  gratitude.  How  good  is  God  to  unworthy 
me  !  I  lament  my  poor  returns  for  such  unde- 
served favors.  Lord,  enable  me  to  press  forward 
with  new  zeal  this  week.  0 !  for  grace  to  bear 
up  under  trials  so  as  to  honor  God!  " 

"  Sabbath  Evening. — I  hope  I  shall  not  be 
left  to  live  upon  frames  ;  but  of  late  I  think  I 
have  felt  a  little  more  quickening  ;  yet  my  bodily 
complaints  keep  me  low  in  spirits.  I  do  hope  I 
desire  that  the  rod  may  be  sanctified  rather  than 
removed.  Lord,  if  thou  hast  any  more  work  for 
me  to  do,  thou  canst  raise  me  up,  and  give  me 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  87 

strength  to  perform  every  duty  cheerfully  ;  but  I 
ask  for  entire  submission  to  thy  blessed  will  in 
all  things." 


Letter  to  Mrs.  M.  C.,  of  D. 

"  Newbuiyport,  March  24,  1829. 

'*  MY  DEAR  MRS.  C., 

"  I  bear  you  and  your  dear  family  much  on  my 
mind  every  clay.  I  have  learned  by  experience 
to  feel  for  those  who  are  laboring  under  bodily 
weakness  and  distresses.  I  believe  you  will  regain 
your  health  when  the  warm  weather  approaches. 

' '  I  hope  and  trust  this  season  of  confinement 
will  be  sanctified  for  your  best  good.  This 
precious  promise  is  often  a  source  of  comfort  to 
me,  l  All  things  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  God.'  It  is  said,  '  Affliction  is  the  good 
man's  shining  scene.' 

11 1  don't  know  how  it  is  with  you  ;  but  T  see 
so  much  sin  and  vanity  mixed  with  everything  I 
do,  that  I  have  reason  to  expect  many  trials  to 
purify  me  and  prepare  me  for  that  pure  state 
where  nothing  unholy  can  ever  enter.  I  am  often 
sick  of  myself,  and  want  to  fly  away  from  sin. 

"I  have  heard  of  the  great  affliction  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  have  sustained  in  the  death  of  their 

beloved  children.  If  you  recollect,  a  year  or  two 


00  MEMOIR    OP 

since,  you  asked  me  to  remember  them,  and  from 
that  time  to  this,  I  have  often  endeavored  to  inter- 
cede for  them  and  their  children.  When  I  heard 
of  their  sorrows,  I  began  to  think  that  4he  cross 
came  first,  and  that  the  blessing  would  follow  in 
their  salvation.  Certainly,  they  have  been  called 
to  drink  a  bitter  cup,  and  it  does  seem  to  me  that 
Heaven  has  some  wise  designs  in  withering  those 
fair  flowers.  May  wo  not  hope  that  they  are 
transplanted  to  a  fairer  soil  ?  Surely  the  parents 
have  a  new  motive  to  seek  preparation  for  Heaven. 
The  little  tract  in  poetry,  called  *  The  Hermit,' 
might  afford  them  consolation  if  put  into  their 
hands.  Do  get  it  for  them.  I  hope  you  and  Mr. 
C.  will  be  made  instruments  of  their  salvation. 
No  doubt  they  look  up  to  you  for  counsel  in  this 
time  of  trial.  If  you  see  any  thing  favorable  do 
let  me  know,  for  I  shall,  as  the  Lord  enables  me, 
commend  them  to  the  mercy  of  God. 

"  I  have  been  greatly  interested  respecting  the 
new  church  in  D.  ever  since  I  heard  of  it.  I 
hope  a  great  blessing  will  follow.  I  believe  Mr. 
C.  is  raised  up  to  do  much  for  the  up-building  of 
Christ's  kingdom.  '  He  who  sows  bountifully, 
shall  reap  also  bountifully.'  I  hope  many  will 
be  added  to  both  churches  who  will  finally  be 
saved, 

6*  The  most  I  can  do  is  to  pray  for  the  pros- 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  89 

perity  of  Zion,  and  for  those  who  are  active  in  the 
Lord's  cause.  We  all  have  a  work  assigned  us  ; 
let  us  not  be  slothful,  but  *  fervent  in  spirit,  serv- 
ing the  Lord.' 

"  I  trust,  my  dear  niece,  you  will  soon  be 
raised  up  with  new  zeal  for  God.  Your  dear 
children  will,  I  hope,  all  be  gathered  early  into 
the  fold  of  Christ. 

"  We  have  had  a  few  instances  of  conviction 
and  conversion  here  of  late.  Mr.  Proudfit's 
preaching  has  been  blessed  for  the  hopeful  conver- 
sion of  several.  The  Bible  class  is  large  and 
interesting.  We  hope  our  old  church  will  soon 
be  repaired.  Pray  for  us,  that  it  may  be  filled 
with  spiritual  worshippers. 

"  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

J.  G." 

8* 


90  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"Grace  be  with  all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
sincerity."  — EPH.  vi.  24. 

IN  the  summer  of  1830,  Mrs.  G.  had  a  short 
interview  in  Newburyport  with  the  late  Robert 
Ralston,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  that  distinguished 
Christian  philanthropist ;  and  soon  after  his  return 
home  she  addressed  a  letter  to  him.  The  follow- 
ing is  his  reply  :  — 

"  Philadelphia,  Oct.  5,  1330. 

"MY  DEAR  MADAM, 

"  The  precious  spirit  manifested  in  the  grateful 
emotions  of  your  heart,  to  the  God  of  all  our 
mercies,  as  contained  in  yours  of  the  29th  ult., 
was  refreshing,  I  trust,  to  our  spirits.  '  As  iron 
sharpeneth  iron,  so  doth  the  countenance  of  one 
friend  another.'  A  precious  spirit  it  may  well  be 
called,  and  I  would  indulge  the  hope,  partakes  of 
that  love,  which  caused  the  disciples'  hearts  to 
bum  within  them,  on  their  way  to  Emmaus.  To 
see  the  out-stretched  hand  of  your  Heavenly 
Father,  interposing  in  the  time  of  the  creature's 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  91 

extremity,  will  enable  you,  in  unison  with  the  poet, 
to  say, 

{ In  each  event  of  life,  how  clear 

Thy  ruling  hand  I  see  ; 
Each  blessing  to  my  soul  most  dear, 

Because  conferred  by  Thee.' 

What  nearness  to  the  Lord  does  it  discover! 
What  condescension  in  the  Great  Supreme,  to 
give  the  impression,  on  that  very  morning,  '  that 
some  relief  was  at  hand  ! '  How  can  there  be  a 
want  of  trusting  in  the  Lord  ? 

"  To  have  praying  breath  for  me  and  mine,  I 
hope  I  do  not  esteem  a  small  favor  of  the  Lord  ; 
and,  therefore,  to  have  the  assurance  that  this  has 
been  your  exercise  of  soul,  and,  as  God  shall 
enable  you,  will  be  in  time  to  come,  is  very  grate- 
ful to  me.  I  desire  to  give  him  the  praise.  It  is 
all  of  Him,  and  all  through  Him,  to  whom  be 
glory  for  ever  and  ever. 

"  0  !  my  friend,  how  can  we  love  Him  and 
serve  Him  as  we  ought,  whilst  we  are  on  the 
earth  ?  Let  us  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call 
upon  His  holy  name.  This  is  all  He  requires  of 
us  to  receive  still  greater  benefits. 

"  To  observe  the  Friday  morning  exercise  shall 
be  my  endeavor ;  but  permit  me  to  solicit  your 
prayers  for  me,  that  the  Lord  will  afford  me  the 
spirit  of  prayer.  0 !  my  friend,  you  know 


92  MEMOIR   OF 

something  of  the  weakness  of  the  creature,  and, 
therefore,  you  will  not  be  surprised  that  I  need 
more  grace,  more  strength,  more  faith,  that  I  may 
pray  the  in-wrought  prayer  of  the  heart. 

"  That  your  son  may  be  kept  humble,  as  you 
are  so  anxious  he  should  be ;  that  he  may  be  emi- 
nently useful  in  the  gospel  ministry,  and  a  burn- 
ing and  shining  light  in  the  church  of  Christ,  will 
be  my  earnest  desire  for  him.  And  that  the 
Lord  will  bless  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  all  who 
are  dear  to  you,  will  be  the  earnest  and  affection- 
ate desire  of 

"  Your  very  sincere  friend, 

ROBERT  RALSTON." 

She  loved  Christians  of  all  denominations. 
While  she  firmly  believed  the  doctrines,  and  had 
a  decided  preference  for  the  form  of  government 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  she  did  not  exclude 
from  her  charity  those  who,  while  they  seemed  to 
love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity,  did  not  coincide 
with  her  in  every  particular.  By  some  her 
charity  was  thought  to  be  excessive ;  but  if  at 
times  she  judged  too  favorably  of  the  undeserving, 
there  was  ample  compensation  for  all  such  mis- 
takes in  that  increased  readiness  thus  produced  to 
believe  and  honor  God,  who  is  ever  better  than 
our  thoughts. 


MRS.    JANE    GREEfrLEAE:   T  tT  T?  tW*  T  T* 
T  WAN  I    V    &  J£  *J  J.    i 

"To  decide  infallibly  upon  .  character,"  says 
Rev.  J.  A.  James,  "  is  not  only  the  prerogative 
of  the  Deity,  but  requires  his  attributes.  There 
may  be  some  grains  of  wheat  hid  among  the  chaff 
which  we  may  be  at  a  loss  to  discover.  We  must 
be  careful  how  we  set  up  our  views,  or  our  experi- 
ence, as  the  test  of  character,  so  as  to  condemn 
all  who  do  not  come  up  to  our  standard." 

"  Charity  hopeth  all  things.  Charity  vaunteth 
not  itself;  is  not  puffed  up."  "This  divine 
virtue  delights  to  speak  well,  and  think  well  of 
others ;  she  talks  of  their  good  actions,  and  says 
little  or  nothing,  except  when  necessity  compels 
her,  of  their  bad  ones.  She  holds  her  judgment 
in  abeyance  as  to  motives,  till  they  are  perfectly 
apparent.  She  does  not  look  round  for  evidence 
to  prove  an  evil  design,  but  hopes  that  what  is 
doubtful  will  by  farther  light  appear  to  be  correct; 
she  imputes  not  evil  so  long  as  good  is  probable  ; 
she  leans  to  the  side  of  candor,  rather  than  to  that 
of  severity  ;  she  makes  every  allowance  that  truth 
will  permit ;  looks  at  all  the  circumstances  which 
can  be  pleaded  in  mitigation;  suffers  not  her 
opinions  to  be  formed,  till  she  has  had  opportunity 
to  escape  from  the  mists  of  passion,  and  to  cool 
from  the  wrath  of  contention.  Love  desires  the 
happiness  of  others ;  and  how  can  she  be  in  haste 
to  think  evil  of  them?" 


94  MEMOIR    OF 

Under  the  influence  of  this  charity,  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  seemed  always  to  act.  While  she 
thought  humbly  of  herself,  she  always  hoped  the 
best  of  others ;  and  earnestly  endeavored  not  to 
indulge  in  prejudice  against  any.  She  was  much 
pleased  with  the  direction  of  Cecil,  "If  there  is 
any  person  you  dislike,  that  is  the  one  of  whom 
you  should  never  speak. " 

She  had  many  dear  friends  who  had  embraced 
Unitarian  sentiments.  In  conversing  with  them, 
she  never  countenanced  their  errors,  nor  yielded 
her  own  opinions.  Such  a  course  would  have 
been  weakness ;  not  charity,  but  a  perversion  of 
it.  In  the  history  of  Christ  and  his  apostles  we 
find  nothing  to  sanction  such  liberality,  on  points 
vital  to  the  soul,  and  fundamental  to  the  gospel. 
She  would  tell  these  friends  that  "she  believed  in 
a  religion  which  extended  to  every  act  of  life ;  but 
she  came  so  infinitely  short  in  all  things,  that,  if 
it  were  not  for  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ,  and 
her  belief  in  Him  as  *  the  Mighty  God,'  her 
hopes  of  salvation  would  be  at  an  end ;  "  and  as 
expressive  of  her  trust,  she  would  quote  those 
lines  of  Dr.  Watts, 

"  But  when  I  stand  before  thy  bar, 
The  blood  of  Cfirist  is  my  defence." 

When   any   objected   to   the   doctrine   of    the 


MRS.    JANE    GREEN  LEAF. 


95 


Trinity  on  account  of  its  mystery,  she  would 
reply,  "  Yes,  it  is  a  glorious  mystery;  and  it 
becomes  us  to  wonder  and  adore  where  we  cannot 
comprehend." 

As  descriptive  of  the  kind  manner  in  which 
she  addressed  those  who  were  Unitarians,  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Mrs.  P.,  of  Portland,  (Maine,) 
will  be  introduced ;  although  it  was  one  of  the 
last  which  she  ever  dictated,  and  after  the  failure 
of  her  sight,  prevented  her  writing  with  her  own 
hand.  She  had  not  seen  this  friend  for  forty 
years,  but  hearing  that  she  had  become  blind, 
her  sympathies  were  strongly  enlisted  in  her 
behalf. 

"  Newbmyport,  Jan.  18,  1850. 
"DEAR    MRS.    P., 

"  I  trust  you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  now  take 
in  addressing  you  in  this  way.  Since  I  heard 
particularly  from  you  last  summer,  by  Mrs.  M.,  I 
have  sympathized  with  you  under  your  afflictions  ; 
and  I  know,  by  sad  experience,  how  to  feel  for 
you  under  loss  of  sight,  as  my  own  is  very  much 
impaired. 

"  In  our  younger  years,  we  have  met  in  this 
very  house  where  T  now  reside.  You,  as  well  as 
myself,  have  been  called  to  suffer  many  bereave- 
ments, having  lost  your  husband  and  an  only  son ; 


96 


MEMOIR    OP 


but  now  we  are  both  far  on  our  journey  to  the 
eternal  world.  And  0  !  I  hope  we  have  both 
fled  for  refuge  to  the  only  hope  set  before  us  in 
the  gospel,  and  have  tasted  the  blessedness  of 
those  whose  sins  are  covered  by  the  atoning  llood 
of  Christ,  and  have  found  him  exceedingly 
precious.  Our  lot  in  life  has  been  very  different. 
You  have  lived  in  affluence  ;  and  I  have  passed 
through  many  outward  straits  and  embarrass- 
ments ;  but  I  have  always  been  provided  for  by 
Him  who  has  promised  his  people,  *  I  will  never 
leave  nor  forsake  thee.' 

"  I  trust  you  have  kind  children  and  grand- 
children with  you,  whose  pleasure  it  is  to  mitigate 
your  afflictions,  as  far  as  it  is  in  their  power. 
These  are  mercies  that  ought  to  call  forth  our 
warmest  gratitude  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift. 

"  I  have  been  in  Portland  twice  during  the 
last  fifteen  years,  and  now  deeply  regret  that  I 
did  not  call  upon  you.  My  object  was  to  visit  my 
son,  who  then  resided  in  Andover,  seventy-five 
miles  north  of  Portland.  I  admired  your  city, 
and  the  friends  I  met. 

11  My  particular  design  in  writing  is  to  tell  you 
that  I  often  remember  you  and  your  family  in  my 
prayers,  beseeching  God  to  grant  you  all  a  well- 
grounded  hope  of  pardon  and  eternal  life,  through 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  97 

the  merit  and  mediation  of   our   Almighty  Re- 
deemer. 

"  If  we  are  ever  permitted  to  meet  in  a  better 
world,  it  must  be,  not  for  any  righteousness  of  our 
own,  but  only  on  account  of  the  righteousness 
and  atonement  of  Him  who  died  that  we  might 
live. 

"  I  ask  an  interest  in  your  prayers,  that  I  may 
be  entirely  resigned  under  my  afflictions. 

"  I  expect  no  reply  to  this  imperfect  letter. 
Accept  it  only  as  a  proof  of  kind  remembrance  ; 
and  rest  assured  I  shall  contine  to  pray  that  God 
will  grant  you  those  divine  consolations,  which 
the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  It  is  a 
great  mercy  that  your  hearing  is  continued,  so 
that  you  can  listen  to  the  reading  of  the  Word  of 
God  and  good  books. 

11  That  the  best  of  Heaven's  blessings  may  rest 
on  you  and  yours,  is  the  ardent  desire  and 
prayer  of 

"  Your  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 

This  letter  was  most  kindly  received,  and  at  the 

request  of  Mrs.  P.  often  read  to  her.      In  about 

two  weeks  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  G.,  she  followed 

her  to  the  world  of  spirits.    During  her  illness,  the 

9 


98  MOIR    OF 

prayer  of  the  publican  was  often  offered  by  her,  to 
the  prayer-hearing  God. 

Some  letters  of  a  miscellaneous  character  will 
now  be  inserted. 

To  Mrs.  M.  C.,  of  D. 

"  Xewburvport,  Feb.  19,  1831. 

"  MY  DEAR  NIECE, 

"  I  wish  to  express  my  gratitude  for  the  noble 
present  I  have  received  from  you  and  Dr.  C.  I 
am,  sometimes,  unwilling  to  be  so  burdensome  to 
my  friends.  At  others  I  am  sweetly  submissive, 
so  that  I  prefer  my  situation  to  a  prosperous  one. 
I  need  humbling,  and  Infinite  Wisdom  sees  it 
needful  to  keep  me  low,  as  to  temporal  things,  in 
order,  I  trust,  to  purify  me,  and  prepare  me  for  a 
better  world. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  my  feelings,  when  I  received 
your  letter.  This  favor,  and  others  from  you  and 
other  kind  benefactors,  often  excite  lively  grati- 
tude to  the  great  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift ;  and  then,  I  am  drawn  out  in  love  to  those, 
who  are  made  such  instruments  of  good  to  me.  I 
ought  to  love  to  be  in  straits,  that  I  may  see,  more 
fully,  the  goodness  of  God.  Help  me,  my  dear 
niece,  to  bless  and  adore  the  hand,  which  is  con- 
tinually stretched  out,  in  a  marvellous  manner,  for 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  99 

my  relief.  I  keep  a  little  record  of  mercies,  and 
I  should  like  to  read  a  part  of  it  to  you,  when  we 
meet,  for  you  would  be  struck  with  the  faithful- 
ness of  my  covenant  God  and  Father  to  me.  I 
feel  entirely  unworthy  of  the  least  mercy  ;  and  yet 
how  full  of  blessings  is  my  cup !  But  I  forbear, 
after  desiring  my  best  love  to  Dr.  C.  God  will 
reward  you  both,  if  I  cannot. 

' '  I  wish  to  express  my  approbation  of  Dr.  C .  's 
speech  with  respect  to  Harvard  University.  I 
have  recently  heard  that  the  matter  is  decided  in 
behalf  of  the  liberal  party.  Well,  in  due  time, 
there  will  be  a  change  there.  We  must  not  be 
discouraged ;  for,  if  we  cannot  overrule  these 
things,  God  can  and  will  do  it  in  his  own  time. 
Those,  who  have  stood  forth  on  the  side  of  truth, 
will  have  a  rich  reward  ;  but  we  are  all  called  now 
to  '  watch  unto  prayer.' 

"  I  have  had  a  very  interesting  letter  from  Mr. 
Woodbridge.  He  now  resides  in  Utica,  N.  Y., 
where  there  is  great  revival  of  religion.  He  says, 
hundreds  are  converted  there,  and  that  prayer 
meetings  are  attended  almost  every  hour  in  the 
day  and  evening.  Pie  thinks  there  is  a  great  con- 
flict before  Christians,  and  that  it  becomes  them  to 
be  more  decided. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  be  more  stirred  up  here,  and 
that  the  friends  of  Christ,  in  your  region,  will  take 


100  MEMOIR   OP 

courage,  and  pray  more  fervently  for  the  dews  of 
Divine  grace  to  descend  among  you. 

"  We  have  commenced  the  monthly  distribution 
of  tracts  to  every  family  in  town.  Most  received 
them  the  first  time  —  the  second  month  more  were 
refused,  but  I  hope  good  will  be  done  by  them. 
0 !  that  we  might  have  a  spring  time  as  to  re- 
ligion ! 

"  Mrs.  P.  has  died  lately,  after  a  long  sickness. 
I  shall  miss  her,  but  I  cannot  be  so  selfish  as  to 
wish  any  of  my  pious  friends  back  to  this  state  of 
sin  and  sorrow. 

"  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

J.  G." 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  a  friend 
in  Newburyport,  whose  daughter  was  sinking  in 
consumption  :  — 

"  August,  1831. 
"  MY  DEAR  FRIEND, 

"  I  have  wanted  to  call  in  since  your  return 
from  Andover,  but  thought  it  would  be  greater 
kindness  to  stay  away.  I  hope  your  beloved 
daughter  will  be  spared,  and  made  a  great  blessing 
to  her  parents  and  friends,  if  consistent  with  the 
Divine  will ;  but  my  earnest  prayer  is  that  she 
and  all  her  friends  may  be  prepared  for  any  event. 
She  has  always  been  a  very  pleasant  child ;  and, 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  101 

sometimes,  such  fair  plants  are  removed  early  to  a 
better  world.  Infinite  Wisdom  cannot  err.  Our 
duty  is  to  aim  at  entire  submission  under  every 
allotment  of  Divine  Providence,  however  adverse 
it  may  seem  to  us.  I  often  think  of  these  lines, 

1  Behind  a  frowning  Providence, 
He  hides  a  smiling  face.' 

"  I  hope  M.  A.  will  open  her  mind  to  some 
pious  female  friend  upon  religious  subjects,  and 
obtain  great  comfort,  for  if  she  lives  many  years, 
she  will  need  the  consolations  of  religion.  We  all 
need  these  consolations,  and  we  ought  to  be  much 
'engaged  in  prayer  for  them.  As  she  cannot  read 
now,  or  hear  reading,  she  is  deprived  of  some  privi- 
leges which  she  used  to  enjoy.  But  what  a  mercy 
it  is  that  we  can  send  up  our  desires  to  God,  when 
we  are  laid  aside  by  sickness  !  He  can  hear  and 
answer  the  softest  call. 

' '  However  amiable  and  lovely  your  dear  daugh- 
ter is,  she  needs,  as  we  all  do,  a  better  righteous- 
ness than  her  own,  to  prepare  her  for  that  blessed 
world,  where  no  sin  or  sorrow  can  ever  enter.  I 
hope  she  will  be  enabled  to  look,  by  faith,  to  that 
Almighty  Saviour,  who  is  able  and  willing  to  save 
all,  who  apply  to  Him,  for  the  remission  of  their 
sins.  How  precious,  and  how  free  are  his  invita- 
9* 


102  MEMOIR   OP 

tions,  '  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  who  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.' 

"  I  have  written  a  few  lines  to  M.  A.  for  you 
to  look  over,  and  give  to  her,  if  you  think  best. 
Sometimes,  a  few  lines  written  are  more  blessed 
than  conversation.  I  trust  you  will  be  sustained 
under  every  trial. 

"  Yours,  in  haste, 

J.  G." 

The  two  following  letters  were  addressed  to  a 
kind  friend  and  neighbor,  for  whose  spiritual  in- 
terests she  felt  much  solicitude,  and  over  whom  she 
soon  rejoiced,  as  a  member  of  Christ's  "little 
flock." 

"  September  6,  1831. 

"  DEAR  SIR, 

"  As  I  do  not  see  you,  when  I  call  at  your 
house,  I  take  the  liberty  of  expressing  a  few 
thoughts  in  writing,  presuming  on  your  candor  to 
excuse  my  freedom.  I  do  sincerely  sympathize 
with  you  and  Mrs.  C.  under  the  recent  affliction, 
in  the  death  of  your  beloved  daughter.  She  has 
been  a  most  desirable  child  from  her  earliest  years. 
No  wonder  your  hearts  are  depressed  under  such 
a  loss ;  but  I  hope  you  will  be  enabled  to  say, 
'  Father,  not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.'  Think 
of  the  great  mercies  mixed  with  this  bitter  cup. 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  103 

Your  beloved  M.  A.  was,  I  believe,  well  prepared 
for  a  state  of  complete  rest  in  Heaven.  She  has, 
I  trust,  through  boundless  grace,  been  admitted 
into  that  pure  region,  '  where  all  the  air  is  love.' 
She  was  a  lovely  flower,  early  cut  down,  and  trans- 
planted into  a  region  of  perfect  peace  and  joy. 
However  dark  and  mysterious  this  dispensation  of 
Providence  may  appear  to  us  imperfect  creatures, 
yet,  hereafter,  I  hope  and  believe,  you  will  see 
that  it  was  designed  for  your  best  good.  God  is 
too  wise  to  err ;  too  good  to  lay  any  unnecessary 
affliction  on  any  of  his  creatures.  This  heavy  be- 
reavement may  be  the  means  of  drawing  your 
heart  to  Christ,  and  thus  preparing  you  to  meet 
your  beloved  daughter  in  the  realms  of  glory.  Let 
us  all  consider  that  we  are  but  a  few  steps  behind 
our  departed  friends.  Preparation  for  death  is 
the  '  one  thing  needful.' 

"  I  have  long  wanted  to  express  my  gratitude 
to  you,  sir,  for  your  repeated  acts  of  kindness  to- 
wards me.  If  I  cannot  make  any  return  to  you, 
God  can,  and  will  reward  all  my  kind  benefactors. 

"  That  the  best  of  Heaven's  blessings  may  rest 
on  you  and  your  family  is  the  desire  and  prayer  of 
"  Your  sympathizing  friend, 

J  GREENLEAF." 


104  MEMOIR    OF 

To  the  same. 

"  August  10,  1832. 

"  DEAR  SIR, 

11  You  must  allow  me  the  privilege  of  thanking 
you  for  your  repeated  acts  of  benevolence  towards 
us.  I  cannot  well  express  my  feelings,  when  your 
last  valuable  present  was  received.  I  was  alone 
in  the  house,  and  was  so  affected  with  a  sense  of 
my  ingratitude  to  the  God  of  all  mercy,  that,  for 
a  time,  I  sat  in  silent  astonishment.  This  new 
token  of  kindness  has  called  forth  earnest  desires 
for  your  best  welfare.  I  cherish  the  pleasing  hope, 
that  you  and  your  beloved  family  will  all  soon  be- 
come decidedly  pious.  I  have  felt  the  fullest  con- 
fidence that  the  early  removal  of  your  beloved 
M.  A.  was  to  be  the  means  of  the  salvation  of  your 
whole  family.  We  cannot  mourn  for  her  ;  let  us, 
rather,  rejoice  that  she  left  such  bright  evidence 
that  she  was  prepared  for  a  state  of  complete 
felicity.  May  we  seek,  diligently,  that  vital  union 
to  Christ,  by  a  true  and  living  faith,  which  will 
entitle  us  to  that  '  rest,  which  remaineth  for  the 
people  of  God,'  beyond  the  grave ! 

"  I  have  long  considered  you  as  *  almost  per- 
suaded '  to  come  out  boldly  on  the  Lord's  side. 
Your  acts  of  benevolence  to  the  poor  and  afflicted, 
ought  to  humble  many  professed  Christians,  who 
1  withhold  more  than  is  meet,  and  it  tends  to  pov- 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  105 

erty.'  I  wish  you  could  attend  the  meeting  on 
Thursday  evenings  ;  you  might  get  your  good  re- 
solutions very  much  strengthened  by  so  doing. 
My  idea  is,  that  the  diligent  seeker  will  find.  If 
we  ask,  perseveringly ',  we  shall  receive  ;  but  we 
must  be  in  earnest,  if  we  want  spiritual  blessings, 
as  time,  with  us,  may  be  very  short. 

"  I  often  think  of  my  father,  when  I  see  you  so 
active  about  worldly  things.  He  did  much  good, 
by  employing  many,  and  so  do  you  ;  but  he  spent 
much  time  alone,  every  day,  in  prayer  and  read- 
ing the  Bible,  especially  during  the  last  years  of 
his  life,  when  he  had  more  leisure. 

"  We  are  all  forming  characters  for  a  vast  Eter- 
nity, and  we  cannot  be  too  much  engaged  in  secur- 
ing an  interest  in  the  Saviour's  love.  With  your 
active  disposition,  how  much  may  you  do  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  if  you  should  now  be  decided  in 
religion !  Excuse  the  freedom  I  have  taken  in 
expressing  my  feelings  in  this  way.  Accept  the 
best  wishes  of 

Your  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 

In  the  revival  of  religion  in  Newburyport  in 
1831,  she  was  much  interested,  as  well  as  that  in 
the  winter  of  1833  and  1834.  Her  house  was  the 
resort  of  numerous  inquirers  and  young  converts, 


10(5  MEMOIR    OF 

whom  sho  instructed  in  the  way  of  salvation.  And 
, cry  day,  tidings  of  new  subjects  of  the  work 
reached  her  ears,  her  heart  was  filled  with  grati- 
tude, and  she  earnestly  desired  that  large  acces- 
sions might  be  made  to  the  churches,  "  of  such  as 
should  be  saved." 

In  June,  1834,  her  husband  died,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  Being  herself  in  feeble  health,  she 
was  much  affected  by  this  bereavement.  But  that 
Almighty  arm,  on  which  she  had  long  leaned, 
sustained  her,  and  she  came  forth  from  the  trial, 
to  be  "a  widow  indeed,  trusting  in  God,  and  con- 
tinuing in  supplications  and  prayers  night  and 
day." 

After  this  time,  she  would  often  repeat,  in  an 
under  tone,  apparently  unconscious  that  she  was 
overheard,  the  following  lines,  which  she  had, 
probably,  learned  in  childhood  from  the  New  En- 
gland Primer  :  — 

"  Lord,  if  Thou  lengthen  out  my  days, 

Then  let  my  heart  so  fixed  be, 
That  I  may  lengthen  out  Thy  praise, 

And  never  turn  aside  from  Thee." 

The  following  letter,  to  a  friend  in  D.,  will 
show  her  feelings  at  the  time  of  her  husband's 
decease  :  — 


SIRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  107 

"  Newburyport,  July  28, 1834. 

"  Your  very  kind  letter,  my  dear  niece,  written 
soon  after  your  uncle's  death,  was  read  with  much 
pleasure.  I  now  thank  you  for  it,  and  for  your 
kind  sympathy  for  us  under  our  affliction. 

"  I  had  such  a  shock  in  your  uncle's  sudden 
removal,  that,  for  a  week,  I  felt  as  though  I  should 
soon  be  numbered  with  the  silent  dead.  My  nerves 
were  greatly  affected.  But  God,  who  is  rich  in 
mercy,  has  appeared  for  me,  and  now  I  am  com- 
fortable, though  weak,  and  liable  to  ill  turns. 

"  Mr.  Gr.  was  so  softened  for  the  last  nine 
months  that  we  cannot  but  hope  he  obtained  mercy 
at  the  eleventh  hour.  He  was  brought  to  beg  for 
mercy,  and  had  been  studying  the  Bible  for  sev- 
eral years.  There  was  strong  faith  respecting  him 
among  my  Christian  friends.  He  has  gone  to  a 
righteous  Jud<re,  and  there  I  leave  him.  Con- 

O  o     7 

tinue  to  pray  for  us,  that  this  solemn  call  may  be 
sanctified  for  our  best  good. 

"The  shower  of  Divine  influence,  which  we 
have  enjoyed  here,  has  passed  by  ;  but  the  effects 
are  abiding.  We  hope  for  another  shower.  There 
seems  to  be  a  spirit  of  prayer  in  our  praying 
circles. 

"  We  hope  the  Lord  will  appear  for  us,  as  a 
church  and  society,  and,  in  due  time,  send  us  a 
pastor,  after  his  own  heart.  '  The  darkest  hour  is 


108  MKMOIR    OF 

just  before  day.'  We  must  try  to  commit  all  our 
cares  to  the  Lord,  respecting  temporal  as  well  as 
spiritual  blessings. 

"  I  hope  the  Lord  will  revive  his  work  with 
you.  Don't  you  begin  to  hope  a  revolution  is  to 
take  place  in  Harvard  University  ?  I  trust  the 
funds  will  yet  be  brought  back  to  the  original  de- 
signs of  the  founder. 

"  Your  affectionate  aunt, 

J.  G." 

The  following  extracts  are  from  letters  written 
the  next  year  :  — 

To  Miss  M.  H.  A.  of  A.,  while  visiting  in  N.  Y. 

i:  Xewburyport,  March  9, 1835. 
"  MY  DEAR  FRIEND, 

"  I  hope  and  trust  you  are  made  very  useful 
in  N.  Y.  No  Friday  passes  without  my  thinking 
of  you  and  yours.  I  often  desire  that  the  church  in 
North  Andover  may  be  built  up,  and  spread,  far 
and  wide,  and  that  a  gospel  minister  may  soon 
take  charge  of  the  flock.  When  I  have  read,  re- 
cently, the  accounts  of  the  free  churches  in  N.  Y., 
I  have  felt  that  we  all  ought  to  be  more  active 
and  engaged,  and  more  encouraged. 

"  We  have  no  minister  as  yet ;  but  when  we 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  109 

are  suitably  humbled  and  prepared,  I  trust  a  faith- 
ful one  will  be  placed  over  us. 

"  My  health  has  been  quite  feeble  all  winter. 
I  take  cold  easily,  and  then  have  distressing  at- 
tacks of  asthma,  so  that  I  have  been  out  but  very 
little,  and  often  feel  that  I  am  very  useless.  Dr. 
Scott's  remarks  comfort  me,  sometimes.  He  says, 
'  the  prayers  of  one  solitary  Christian  may  be  felt 
all  over  the  world.'  When  pressed  down  by 
bodily  infirmities  and  worldly  cares,  I  often  de- 
rive rich  consolation  from  the  Bible  and  the 
throne  of  grace." 

"  Sept  25,  1835. 

"  Religion  is  low  with  us,  though  we  hope  some 
Christians  are  more  aroused,  and  a  few  have  been 
hopefully  converted.  A  revival  of  religion  gen- 
erally begins  at  the  house  of  Glod.  We  hear  of 
many  revivals  in  other  places,  and  ought  to  re- 
joice and  take  courage.  The  day  calls  for  fervent 
prayer,  for  it  is  a  time  of  open  rebuke.  We  hope 
the  Lord  will  appear  for  us.  I  think  Christians 
ought  to  be  wide  awake,  and  use  their  influence 
that  God's  holy  day  should  be  more  hallowed,  and 
try  to  stop  the  progress  of  vice." 
10 


110  MEMOIR    OP 


^^BP* 

CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good 
report,  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any  praise, 
think  on  these  things."  —  PHIL.  iv.  8. 

"  THE  best  form  of  Christianity  is  that,  which 
presents  the  loveliest  combination  of  its  graces. 
Few  possess  a  completeness  of  Christian  character." 
Few,  indeed,  are  the  instances  we  find  of  Chris- 
tian perfectness  ;  that  perfectness  which  consists  in 
having  all  the  attributes  of  the  child  of  God  in 
visible  and  lively  exercise.  By  many  this  seems 
to  be  considered  as  an  attainment  quite  beyond 
their  reach.  Hence,  they  are  content  to  be  en- 
tirely wanting  in  some  Christian  graces,  as  if  it 
were  not  necessary  to  cultivate  all  of  them.  But 
to  regard  the  supposed  possession  of  one  or  two 
of  the  Christian  characteristics,  as  a  safe  criterion 
of  character,  is,  certainly,  a  mistake.  "  If  any 
man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature  ;  old  things 
are  passed  away  ;  behold  all  things  are  become 
new."  He  will  not  lack  wholly  any  one  of  the 
Christian  graces,  though  one  grace  may  outgrow 
another.  "  Charity  is  the  bond  of  perfectness." 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  Ill 

"  Like  the  band  round  the  sheaf,  it  holds  all  the 
separate  ears  together." 

In  the  religious  character  of  the  "Mother  in 
Israel,"  whose  history  is  sketched  in  this  volume, 
there  was  this  combination  of  graces.  There  was 
a  marked  consistency.  A  gentleman,  who  had 
known  her  for  more  than  fifty  years,  has  said,  that 
her  consistent  exemplification  of  the  Christian 
character,  under  a  great  variety  of  circumstances, 
was  the  most  convincing  proof  of  the  reality  of 
religion,  with  which  he  had  ever  met. 

After  her  decease,  another  friend  thus  wrote  : 
"  Her  example  has  done  more,  than  all  the  books 
I  ever  read,  to  dispel  sceptical  doubts  on  religious 
subjects,  to  which  I  have  always  been  exposed." 

The  most  prominent  feature  in  her  piety  was 
undoubtedly  faith  ;  a  faith,  working  by  love,  puri- 
fying the  heart,  and,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  over- 
coming the  world.  In  the  truth  and  promises  of 
God,  and  in  the  atoning  merits  of  Christ,  she 
had  unwavering  confidence ;  whilst  invisible  things 
seemed  to  have  a  vividness,  to  her  mind,  which 
made  them  almost  like  present  realities.  Faith 
was,  to  her,  the  very  "  substance  of  things  hoped 
for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."  The  future, 
with  its  awful  sanctions  and  glorious  hopes,  influ- 
enced her  thoughts  and  actions,  at  all  times,  and 
under  all  circumstances.  And  this  animated  faith 


112  MEMOIR    OP 

was  the  parent,  the  handmaid,  and  the  strength  of 
other  graces. 

The  cheerfulness  of  her  piety  is  worthy  of  no- 
tice. She  maintained  the  happy  medium  between 
gloom  and  austerity  on  the  one  hand,  and  levity 
on  the  other.  "The  peace  of  God"  reigned  in 
her  heart,  and  diffused  its  influence  through  her 
life.  Her  temper  was  unruffled,  even  under  great 
provocations.  A  benevolent  smile  enlivened  her 
countenance  ;  and  instead  of  repelling  the  young 
from  her  society,  they  were  attracted  and  awed  by 
the  loveliness  and  gentleness,  which,  even  to  ex- 
treme age,  characterized  her,  and  which  increased 
as  she  approached  the  termination  of  her  earthly 
pilgrimage.  Possessing  good  sense  and  a  dis- 
criminating judgment,  she  could  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  children  by  an  anecdote,  while  she  also 
combined  with  it  some  profitable  counsel. 

Since  her  decease,  a  Christian  friend  has  re- 
ferred to  a  little  incident,  which  occurred  in  her 
youth,  and  made  an  indelible  impression  on  her 
memory.  She  and  another  young  lady  were  in- 
dulging in  much  frivolity  in  Mrs.  G-.'s  presence, 
when,  placing  her  hand  affectionately  on  them,  she 
said,  "  0  !  girls,  remember  what  Dr.  Young  says, 

u  Ketire,  and  read  thy  Bible  to  be  gay." 

"  A  word,  fitly  spoken,  is  like  apples  of  gold  in 
pictures  of  silver." 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  113 

She  noticed  the  hand  of  God  in  all  his  works, 
and  traced  all  the  comforts  of  this  life  to  their 
true  source,  the  mediation  of  Christ.  Often  when 
riding  in  the  country  and  admiring  its  diversified 
scenery,  would  she  exclaim  with  great  emphasis, 

"  The  skies  he  formed,  and  yet  he  bled  for  me." 

She  had  learned  of  her  Divine  Master  to  for- 
give injuries.  She  often  said  she  was  naturally 
unforgiving ;  but  so  completely  had  grace  triumphed 
over  this  natural  propensity,  that  to  "  love  her 
enemies  "  was  habitual  with  her.  She  always 
treated  them  kindly,  gladly  relieved  their  temporal 
wants,  and  prayed  for  them  daily.  Whenever  an 
occasion  offered,  she  pressed  the  duty  of  forgive- 
ness on  others,  as  an  indispensable  evidence  of 
Christian  character.  She  indeed  possessed  that 
charity  which  "  suffers  long,  and  is  kind;"  which 
"  thinketh  no  evil ; "  which  "  beareth,  belie veth, 
hopeth,  and  endureth  all  things." 

In  the  summer  of  1839  she  was  obliged  to  dis- 
pose of  her  house  on  High  street,  where  she  had 
lived  for  forty  years,  and  occupy  a  part  of  the  man- 
sion house  of  her  deceased  father  on  Water  street. 
Though  somewhat  reluctant  to  meet  so  great  a 
change  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  yet,  when  she 
was  convinced  that  in  no  other  way  could  she  obey 
the  precept,  "  Provide  things  honest  in  the  sight 
10* 


114  MEMOIR    OF 

of  all  men,'*  she  consented  to  it,  and  for  nearly 
twelve  years  she  found  that  house  a  pleasant  and 
comfortable  place  of  abode. 

She  loved  to  think  of  the  friends  who  once  had 
occupied  it  with  her,  who  now  had  joined  "the 
general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born  in 
heaven ;  "  and  instead  of  any  gloomy  associations, 
all  were  pleasant. 

Here  she  found  a  field  of  usefulness,  which  she 
faithfully  improved  by  dispersing  books  and  tracts, 
and  as  far  as  she  was  able,  by  visiting  and  religious 
conversation,  always  remembering  the  neighbor- 
hood in  her  prayers. 

For  sometime  her  health  was  improved  by  her 
change  of  residence.  She  suffered  less  from 
asthma,  to  which  she  had  been  subject  for  many 
years;  and  although  her  deafness  was  extreme, 
she  enjoyed  much  in  social  intercourse  with  her 
numerous  friends. 

Her  sight,  however,  was  much  impaired  by 
cataracts  on  both  eyes,  which,  while  they  never 
entirely  covered  them,  deprived  her  in  great 
measure  of  the  privilege  of  reading,  from  which 
she  had  always  derived  mucjj  pleasure  and  profit. 
The  Commentaries  of  Henry  and  Scott,  and  the 
the  works  of  Flavel,  Newton,  Hervey,  Edwards, 
Davies,  and  many  others,  had  been  repeatedly 


MRS.   JANE   GREENLEAF.  115 

perused  by  her;  and  with  thoughts  and  select 
passages  from  these  her  favorite  authors,  her  mind 
and  memory  were  well  stored. 

The  house  of  Grod  was  dear  to  her  heart,  and 
she  was  a  constant  attendant  on  its  ordinances 
when  her  health  allowed,  although  she  heard  not  a 
word  of  the  services. 

When  friends  inquired  "  why  she  attended  so 
constantly  when  her  health  was  feeble,  and  the 
weather  unpleasant?"  she  would  reply,  "It  is 
the  place  where  God  has  appointed  to  meet  and 
bless  his  people,  and  I  enjoy  being  there  on  this 
account.  Besides,  I  go  for  the  sake  of  example, 
as  too  many  absent  themselves  from  public  wor- 
ship. When  my  sight  allows,  I  can  read  the  text 
and  hymns,  which  are  often  very  precious  to  me." 
On  one  Communion  Sabbath  the  hymn  beginning, 
"  Dearest  of  all  the  names  above,"  was  sung ; 
she  frequently  after  spoke  of  the  rich  enjoyment  it 
had  afforded  her.  She  would  also  remark,  "  If  I 
can  only  get  into  a  praying  frame,  I  enjoy  much 
in  asking  for  a  blessing  on  the  Word."  It  was 
her  uniform  habit  to  select  individuals  in  the 
assembly,  and  pray  for  a  blessing  on  them,  besides 
her  general  supplication. 

The  succeeding  extracts  from  her  journal  will 
farther  illustrate  her  love  for  Grod's  house :  — 


116  MEMOIR   OF 

"August  llth,  1839,  Sabbath  Evening.  —  I 
have  been  out  all  day.  It  was  our  communion. 
I  felt  very  calm.  Read  some  truths  in  the  morn- 
ing that  were  very  comforting.  Text,  '  Unto 
you  that  believe,  he  is  precious.'  Afternoon, 
*  Choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve.'  It 
is  just  forty  years  since  I  joined  the  church. 
Solemn  thought!  I  have  reason  to  be  deeply 
humbled  for  my  short  comings  in  all  things. 

"April  16th,  1842,  Saturday  Evening.  —  I 
have  been  very  sick  for  three  weeks.  Yesterday 
I  came  below,  though  very  feeble.  The  Lord  has 
appeared  for  me  in  this  time  of  trouble.  0  !  that 
the  affliction  and  the  mercy  may  be  sanctified 
for  my  best  good  !  I  could  record  many  mercies 
since  I  last  wrote  ;  but  I  sum  them  all  up  by  say- 
ing, they  have  been  very  great  in  this  season  of 
distress.  '  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget 
not  all  his  benefits  !  ' 

"June  ISth,  1843.  — I  went  out  all  day.  Mr. 
C.,  of  Portland,  preached.  Morning  text,  'Being 
justified  by  faith/  &c.  Afternoon,  '  If  I  be  a 
Father,  where  is  mine  honor  ? '  &c.  Attended 
Mrs.  Huse's  funeral.  The  address  and  prayer  of 
her  pastor  were  very  appropriate,  as  I  was  told. 
I  hope  this  death  will  be  sanctified  to  her  family 
and  friends.  A  pillar  has  fallen  ! 

"  April  6th,  1844,  Fast  Day.  —The  weather 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  117 

confines  me  at  home ;  but  I  am  contented.  May 
the  Lord  assist  all  his  servants  who  speak  in  his 
name  this  day  !  May  it  be  kept  aright,  and  be  a 
day  of  power ! 

"  May  Wth,  Sabbath  Evening. — I  awoke 
with  scattered  thoughts,  but  afterwards  enjoyed 
meditation  and  prayer.  A  recent  trial  seemed  less 
oppressive.  Have  been  out  all  day.  Mr.  Stearns' 
morning  text,  '  For  I  was  alive  without  the  law,' 
&c.  It  seemed  well  adapted  to  inquirers.  After- 
noon, Mr.  Woodman  preached.  Text,  *  In  all 
things  he  had  the  pre-eminence.'  Was  grieved  to 
hear  that  a  church  member  was  charged  with 
breaking  his  word.  Evening,  E.  came  in  and  read 
to  me.  I  felt  better  for  going  out.  May  a  blessing 
follow  the  truths  spoken  !  " 

For  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  throughout  the 
world,  she  had  a  strong  regard.  The  seven 
pastors  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  who 
successively  held  that  office,  she  "  esteemed  very 
highly  in  love  for  their  work's  sake,"  as  well  as 
for  every  resemblance  to  their  Divine  Master, 
which  she  discovered  in  them.  With  most  of 
them  she  was  on  terms  of  intimacy.  They  could 
always  be  sure  of  her  sympathy  and  prayers,  and 
hearty  co-operation  in  every  effort  for  the  benefit 
of  the  people  of  their  charge. 


118  MEMOIR    OF 

The  following  letters  were  addressed  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Proudfit,  Professor  in  Rutgers'  College,  New 
Brunswick,  (N.  J.,)  formerly  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport. 

To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Proudft. 

"  Newburyport,  Nov.  7, 1840. 

"  MY  DEAR  FRIENDS, 

"  I  wish  to  inform  you  that  the  valuable  box 
sent  by  you  to  my  son  and  his  wife  has  arrived 
safely.  I  hope  and  believe  that  you  both,  and 
others  who  filled  up  this  box,  will  be  rewarded  for 
your  great  kindness  to  them.  My  constant  prayer 
is,  that  they  who  water  us  may  have  their  own 
souls  watered. 

"  For  my  son  and  his  wife  I  most  desire  that 
they  may  be  made  useful  to  souls  around  them. 
I  hope  you  will  pray  for  them  and  us  sometimes. 
I  never  forget  you,  as  a  family,  in  this  way.  In 
my  old  age,  I  feel  it  to  be  a  rich  privilege  to  be 
allowed  to  draw  nigh  to  God,  and  intercede  for 
others,  especially  absent  friends.  I  should  be  an 
ungrateful  being  to  forget  you  or  yours. 

"  I  hope  your  dear  children  are  well,  and  will 
early  be  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

"  I  trust,  my  dear  sir,  you  find  a  large  field  of 
usefulness  in  the  Lord's  vineyard.  Though  we 
were  not  long  indulged  with  the  privilege  of 


MRS.    JANE    GEEENLEAF.  119 

having  you  for  our  pastor,  may  you  be  made  a 
rich  blessing  to  others.  The  aged  poor  among  us 
often  speak  of  your  kindness  to  them.  Many  of 
these  aged  women  have  died  the  last  year.  Our 
churches  are  diminishing  in  numbers,  and  we  need 
a  revival  of  religion,  that  others  may  be  raised  up 
to  'stand  in  the  gap.'  It  is  a  low  time  with  us 
with  regard  to  vital  religion. 

"  I  have  wanted  to  tell  you  about  that  young 
Mr.  S.,  who  was  injured  by  a  gun,  whom  you 
visited  often  when  you  resided  here.  He  was 
restored,  and  became  an  engaged  Christian.  Last 
autumn  he  was  instantly  killed  while  blowing  a 
rock.  He  was  industrious,  and  had  laid  up  a  few 
hundred  dollars,  but  he  gave  largely  to  the  mis- 
sionary cause.  He  had  his  desire  granted,  as  he 
wished  to  die  suddenly.  I  mention  these  particu- 
lars for  your  comfort,  as  you  did  much  for  him  in 
his  affliction  by  visits  and  tracts. 

I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  read  a  part  of  this 
imperfect  letter.     I  do  not  expect  a  reply. 
"  Accept  the  best  wishes  of 

"  Your  obliged  and  sincere  friend, 

JANE  G-REENLEAF." 


120  MEMOIR    OP 

To  the  same,  after  the  death  of  his  father. 
"  Newburyport,  April  25, 1843. 

"  MY  DEAR  FRIENDS, 

"  Surely  God  has  smitten  you  all  with  a  heavy 
rod  of  affliction  in  the  sudden  removal  of  your 
dearly  beloved  father.  But  I  trust  you  will  be  en- 
abled to  say,  *  It  is  the  Lord ;  let  him  do  as  secmeth 
him  good/  The  breach  is  wide  as  the  sea.  But 
his  work  was  all  done,  and  he  is  transplanted  to  a 
brighter  region,  where  all  the  air  is  love.  We  all 
sympathize  with  you  as  a  family.  I  believe  your 
dear  mother  will  be  sustained  under  this  affecting 
dispensation  of  Providence,  and  you  all.  One 
thought  has  struck  me  powerfully,  that  now,  per- 
haps, your  two  brothers,  for  whom  so  many 
prayers  have  been  offered,  may  become  decided 
Christians. 

'  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 
His  wonders  to  perform.' 

"  I  hope  your  dear  little  sons  are  well,  and  will 
soon  be  enclosed  in  the  *  ark  of  safety.'  They 
must  miss  their  beloved  grandfather  very  much. 
We  had  a  letter  from  my  son  and  his  wife  recently, 
announcing  that  a  revival  of  religion  had  com- 
menced in  Auburn.  They  have  received  your 
last  box  of  valuable  clothing,  and  will  write  you 
soon.  You  will  accept  our  thanks  for  this  and 


MRS.    JANE   GREENLEAF.  121 

every  favor  shown  them  and  us.  We  cannot  re- 
ward you,  but  the  Lord  can,  and  will.  It  is  best 
for  some  of  us  to  be  kept  low  as  to  external  things, 
so  that  we  may  live  more  by  faith. 

"Religion   is   low  here;  but   there  are   some 
'  tokens    for    good.'     Here  and  there  a  soul   is 
converted.      Our  ministers  have  much  to  try  their 
faith,  but  they  hold  on  their  way.     Pray  for  us. 
"  Your  obliged  friend, 

J.  G-." 

"  April  26,  1844. 

"  ESTEEMED  FRIENDS, 

"  I  have  intended  for  some  time  to  write  to 
you,  but  still  delayed.  I  hope  your  health,  and 
that  of  your  family,  has  been  preserved  through 
the  last  cold  winter.  I  have  been  confined  by 
sickness  for  several  months ;  but  now  I  am  as  well 
as  usual.  I  feel  the  infirmities  of  old  age,  but  am 
able  to  enjoy  going  to  the  house  of  Grod  when  it  is 
pleasant,  and  to  visit  some  of  my  friends.  I  am 
spared,  while  the  most  of  my  co-evals  are  gone. 
Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  not  be  wholly  useless. 

"  I  continue  to  pray  for  your  brothers.  I  hope 
they  will  become  decided  Christians,  and  do  much 
good. 

"  In  Andover  a  revival  of  religion  has  com- 
menced. One  hundred  persons  are  said  to  be 
11 


122  MKMOIR    OF 

much  impressed.  A  very  careless  boy  *was 
wonderfully  converted,  and  his  exertions  for  others 
were  much  blessed. 

11  We  have  many  sects  and  parties  here,  and 
our  ministers  have  great  trials.  The  Scriptures 
are  fulfilling.  Let  us  rejoice  that  the  Lord  reigns, 
and  will  accomplish  all  his  holy  purposes.  But 
Christians  ought  to  gird  on  the  whole  armor  of 
God,  and  watch  unto  prayer." 

"  Newburyport,  Sept.  21, 1844. 
11  ESTEEMED  FRIENDS, 

"  Although  we  do  not  meet,  I  am  often  with 
you  in  spirit.  I  hope  you  and  your  family  are 
well,  and  that  your  dear  children  are  growing  up 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

"  One  object  I  have  in  writing  now  is  to  give 
you,  dear  sir,  a  short  account  of  the  hopeful  con- 
version of  a  young  man,  in  whom  you  felt  inter- 
ested when  you  boarded  with  him  at  my  sister's. 
I  refer  to  Gr.  W.  L.  B.  He  went  to  Oregon 
Territory,  where  he  came  under  the  influence  of 
the  Methodist  missionaries,  and  attended  their 
'prayer  meetings.  He  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
his  sins,  and,  after  a  season  of  pungent  conviction, 
obtained  a  hope  in  Christ,  and  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  One  of  the  missionaries,  Rev.  Mr. 
Lee,  was  here  a  few  weeks  since,  and  gave  a  very 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  123 

satisfactory  account  of  his  conversion,  and  of  his 
consistent  life  for  months  afterwards,  •which  was  a 
very  great  comfort  to  his  mother.  But  a  short 
time,  however,  elapsed  before  the  news  of  his 
death  followed.  He  was  shot  by  one  of  the 
natives  at  Fort  Vancouver,  thirty  miles  from  the 
place  of  his  residence.  The  surgeon  who  attended 
him,  wrote  the  account  of  his  death,  and  said  he 
was  calm  in  view  of  it,  and  was  able  to  dictate  a 
few  lines  to  his  mother.  She  is  greatly  afflicted, 
but  feels  that  much  mercy  is  mingled  with  this 
bitter  cup.  I  trust  you  will  pray  for  her  and  her 
family,  that  this  affliction  may  be  sanctified  to 
them. 

"  Many  changes  take  place  here.  I  have  been 
feeble  the  past  summer,  but  keep  about  house, 
and  often  go  up  to  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord. 

"  I  do  not  expect  a  reply  to  this  letter.     Please 
accept  it  as  a  token  of  sincere  affection  from 
"  Your  friend, 

JANE  G-REENLEAF." 


124 


MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  X. 

"They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age ;  they  shall  be  fat 
and  flourishing ;  to  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright ;  and  there 
is  no  unrighteousness  in  him."  — Ps.  xcii.  14, 15. 

"Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints." 

Ps.  cxvi.  15. 

WE  have  now  reached  the  closing  years  of  the 
life  of  this  useful  Christian.  As  to  the  main  fea- 
tures of  her  piety,  there  was  no  change  to  the  very 
last.  The  same  strength  of  faith  characterized  her, 
the  same  spirit  of  prayer,  the  same  ardent  desire 
to  do  good.  Old  age  had  crept  gradually  upon 
her,  impairing  her  activity,  and  producing  some 
infirmities;  yet  it  was  that  "good  old  age/'  of 
which  Abraham  had  the  promise,  in  this,  at  least, 
that  it  was  long  in  coming,  that  it  molested  not 
the  mental  faculties,  and  brought  with  it  none  of 
the  peevishness  and  gloom,  which  so  often  marks 
this  period  of  life.  She  has  no  knowledge  of  those 
"  evil  days  "  of  decrepitude  and  misery,  which 
cause  the  weary  pilgrim  to  exclaim,  "  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  them,"  for  they  came  not  to  her. 

Throughout  life,  she  has  been  a  pattern  of  in- 
dustry, and  she  always  now  was  usefully  employed. 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAE.  125 

Nor  was  tins  so  much  from  habit,  or  a  desire  to 
pass  away  the  time,  as  from  principle.  Her  en- 
deavor was  to  walk,  like  Zacharias  and  Elizabeth, 
' '  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the 
Lord  blameless ;  "  and  to  be  "  not  slothful  in  busi- 
ness," she  considered  a  precept  no  less  binding 
than  its  correlative,  "  fervent  in  spirit."  As  her 
sight  was  failing  her  chief  employment,  in  later 
years,  was  knitting  children's  mittens,  of  which, 
after  she  was  eighty  years,  she  knit,  every  year, 
nearly  two  hundred  pair.  Her  deafness  was  a 
great  trial  to  her,  as  it  very  much  abridged  the 
pleasure  of  social  intercourse,  rendering  it  painful 
to  many  friends,  as  well  as  to  herself,  to  prolong 
conversation  with  her.  Sometimes,  when  left 
alone  for  a  short  time,  it  caused  her  some  mortifi- 
cation ;  for,  if  persons  called  with  whom  she  was 
not  well  acquainted,  she  could  neither  distinguish 
their  features,  nor  hear  their  names.  But  she  did 
not  complain,  or  repine.  Generally,  she  would  sifc 
and  pray  or  meditate  upon  Divine  things,  thus 
replenishing  constantly  the  oil  which  kept  her 
lamp  burning;  or  else  she  would  think  upon 
plans  of  usefulness ;  her  hands,  meanwhile,  busily 
plying  the  knitting  needle.  Occasionally,  too,  as 
the  thought  of  some  friend,  in  whose  family,  or 
spiritual  welfare,  she  took  a  deep  interest,  came 
11* 


126  MEMOIR   OP 

into  her  mind,  she  would  take  her  pen  and  write, 
or  else  dictate  a  letter. 

The  letter  upon  page  95,  dated  Jan.  18,  1850, 
was  one  of  the  last  she  dictated,  although  she  wrote 
with  her  own  hand  notes  to  her  sister  till  within  a 
few  weeks  of  her  decease,  notwithstanding  her  par- 
tial loss  of  sight. 

In  December,  1845,  she  had  a  severe  attack  of 
rheumatism,  from  the  effects  of  which  she  never 
wholly  recovered.  In  warm  weather  she  was  able 
to  walk  abroad  ;  but  the  approach  of  winter  con- 
fined her  to  the  house,  and  often  to  her  room. 

The  two  following  letters,  to  Rev.  Dr.  Proudfit, 
were  written  by  her  after  this  period  :  — 

"  Newburyport,  Aug.  22, 1846. 
"  REV.  AND  DEAR  SlR, 

"  I  drop  you  a  few  lines  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Emerson, 
who  expects  to  leave  for  Princeton  in  a  few  days, 
and  may  see  you  in  New  Brunswick.  He  is  the 
son  of  Mr.  C.  L.  E.  of  this  town,  and,  having  be- 
come hopefully  pious  some  years  since,  has  been 
through  Amherst  College,  and  is  now  about  com- 
mencing the  study  of  Theology  at  Princeton.  His 
mother  wished  me  to  request  for  him  an  interest  in 
your  prayers,  and  such  counsel  as  you  may  have 
opportunity  to  give  him. 

"  Since  I  wrote  you  last,  I  have  been  called  to 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  127 

suffer  much  bodily  affliction.  I  had  a  violent  at- 
tack of  rheumatic  fever  last  December,  but  by  a 
blessing  on  the  means  used,  I  was  so  far  restored 
as  to  leave  my  room  in  about  two  months ;  but 
have  not  recovered  my  previous  health,  the  rheu- 
matism having  settled  in  my  neck,  and  subjecting 
me  to  violent  spasms  of  pain.  But  I  am  not 
wholly  confined  to  the  house.  Do  pray  for  me, 
that  I  may  be  entirely  resigned  under  this  cross. 

"  I  hope  you  are  all  well.  The  memoir  of  your 
father  has  been  read  here  with  much  pleasure  and 
profit.  My  father  derived  much  benefit  from  the 
perusal  of  the  lives  of  good  people,  and  so  have  I, 
in  former  years.  But  my  sight  fails,  so  that  now 
I  can  read  but  very  little. 

"  We  had  hoped  to  see  you  here  this  summer. 
Great  sins  abound  with  us ;  yet  some  few  young 
persons  have  been  hopefully  converted  recently. 

"  I  continue  to  pray  for  your  brothers,  and  be- 
lieve that  the  prayers  of  their  parents  and  other 
friends  will  be  answered. 

"  With  affectionate  remembrance  to  Mrs.  P., 
your  mother  and  sister,  and  your  little  sons,  whom 
I  remember  every  day,  I  remain 

"  Your  obliged  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 


128  MEMOIR    OP 

"  Newbuiyport,  Nov.  1,  1848. 
"  MY   VERY   DEAR   FRIENDS, 

"  If  you  were  to  hear  from  me  as  often  as  I 
think  of  you,  it  would  be  every  day. 

"  After  an  absence  of  nearly  ten  years,  my  son 
has  recently  made  us  a  short  visit.  Business 
called  him  to  take  this  journey  so  late  in  the  sea- 
son. The  Lord  prospered  him  on  the  way,,  and 
last  Monday  week  he  left  us  to  return  to  his  dis- 
tant home  in  Illinois.  He  looks  old  and  weather- 
beaten,  showing  that  he  has  endured  great  hard- 
ships ;  but  he  is  satisfied  that  he  is  far  more  useful 
at  the  West  than  he  could  be  here,  and  has  had 
much  encouragement  in  his  ministerial  labors,  fre- 
quent conversions  occurring  under  them.  He  has 
seven  Sabbath  schools  under  his  supervision,  one 
of  which,  numbering  sixty  pupils,  is  held  in  a 
grove,  there  being  no  suitable  building  in  the 
neighborhood.  I  looked  at  his  nice  coat,  vest, 
&c.,  and  found  they  were  furnished  him  by  your 
bounty,  a  year  since.  May  the  Lord  reward  you 
both  for  your  unwearied  kindness  to  him.  He 
spoke  of  it  with  much  gratitude,  and  said  your 
boxes  had  been  of  very  great  service  to  him  ;  he 
hardly  knew  how  he  could  have  done  without 
them.  He  wished  much  to  see  you  before  he  left 
New  York,  but  his  time  would  not  allow  him  to 
go  to  New  Brunswick. 


MRS.  JANE  GR: 

"  I  hope  your  health  has  been  res 
journey.  Your  dear  children  are  often  on  my 
mind,  with  desires  for  their  best  welfare.  May 
they  be  '  plants  of  renown.' 

"  We  have  had  some  recent  trials  in  our 
church,  but  hope  they  will  be  overruled  for  good. 
I  never  expect  any  reply  to  my  letters.  Such  as 
they  are,  accept  them  as  a  proof  of  the  sincere 
regard  of 

"  Your  much  obliged  friend, 

JANE  GREENLEAF." 

Soon  after  this  letter  was  written,  she  was  again 
called  to  suffer  affliction.  Her  brother,  Mr.  Philip 
Coombs,  of  Bangor,  (Maine,)  was  suddenly  re- 
moved by  death,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  leaving  her  and  a  sister  the  only  sur- 
vivors of  twelve  children.  She  felt  deeply  the 
sundering  of  the  tie  which  had  so  long  bound  her 
to  this  beloved  brother ;  but  she  endeavored  to 
make  the  separation  the  means  of  quickening  her 
diligence  in  preparing  for  her  own  departure, 
which  she  did  not  expect  would  be  long  delayed. 
To  human  eyes  there  was,  indeed,  little  remaining 
for  her  to  do  on  earth.  She  had  then  nearly  com- 
pleted her  eighty-fifth  year.  Amidst  the  varied 
scenes  of  a  long  life,  her  faith  had  proved  itself  to 
be  genuine,  by  the  fruits  of  righteousness.  She 


130  MEMOIR    OP 

had  suffered  grievous  afflictions,  and  had  been 
enabled  to  "  glorify  God  in  the  fires."  Her 
heart  had  gone  before  her  into  Heaven,  and  bur 
treasure  was  there  ;  why  should  she  be  longer 
tried  ?  Had  the  summons  then  corne,  perhaps  her 
repute  as  a  Christian,  "  a  mother  in  Israel," 
might  have  been  no  less  ;  and  she  would  have  es- 
caped much  suffering.  But  her  Heavenly  Father 
had  other  purposes  for  her  benefit,  and. his  own 
glory.  It  is  not  every  one  who  is  saved  "  so  as 
by  fire."  Some  are  destined  to  an  "  abundant 
entrance"  into  the  Heavenly  kingdom,  and  must 
"  endure  hardness,"  till  God's  wisdom  has  decided 
that  it  is  enough.  Nor  may  we  suppose  that  God 
ever  suffers  a  Christian  to  linger  on  earth  longer, 
or  to  be  afflicted  more,  than  necessity  requires. 
He  sits  "  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver,"  who 
watches  till  the  highest  degree  of  purity  is  attained, 
and  when  his  own  image  is  fully  reflected,  that 
moment  he  removes  it  from  the  fire,  lest  the  pre- 
cious metal  be  injured.  It  was  painful  to  see 
this  beloved  mother,  apparently  already  ripe  for 
Heaven,  surfer,  as  she  afterwards  did  ;  but  He, 
who  never  afflicts  willingly,  nor  needlessly,  had  a 
wise  and  holy  design  in  all.  He  desires  to  receive 
from  his  vineyard,  the  church,  in  return  for  all  his 
care,  not  only  ripe  fruit,  but  mellow.  And,  in 
her  case,  his  purpose  of  love  was  accomplished  by 


MHS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  131 

prolonging  her  life  into  its  extreme  autumn,  when 
the  "  frosts  of  age."  and  the  keen  air  of  suffering, 
rapidly  mellowed  the  graces,  which  the  summer  of 
life  had  been  so  long  maturing. 

The  spring  of  1850  was  "  the  beginning  of  the 
end  ;  "  and  her  children  might  then  have  adopted, 
for  their  own,  the  language  of  the  prophet,  "  Woe 
is  unto  us !  for  the  day  goeth  away,  for  the  shad- 
ows of  the  evening  are  stretched  out."  An  ex- 
treme soreness  of  the  mouth  and  throat  com- 
menced, which,  in  its  progress,  baffled  medical 
skill,  and  finally  proved  to  be  of  a  cancerous 
nature. 

In  the  following  December,  she  was  confined  to 
her  room,  which  she  never  left  afterwards,  except 
in  a  few  instances.  She  now  endured  severe  pa- 
roxysms of  pain,  and  it  became  increasingly  diffi- 
cult and  distressing  to  take  even  her  necessary 
food.  But  she  was  a  meek  and  patient  sufferer, 
never,  either  by  word  or  look,  manifesting  any 
want  of  entire  acquiescence  in  the  Divine  will. 
Her  hand  would  sometimes  be  raised  to  her  face, 
as  if  to  support  it,  but  that  was  all  that  indicated 
suffering.  It  was  too  painful  for  her  to  speak, 
and  she  said  but  little.  And  thus  would  she  sit 
in  her  arm  chair  for  hours,  in  converse  with  her 
God  and  Saviour,  the  dearest  to  her,  ever,  of  all 
her  friends.  She  looked  continually  to  Him  who 


132  MEMOIR   OF 

had  been  with  her  through  life,  and  from  whose 
hands  she  had  received  so  much  good ;  and  His 
grace  enabled  her,  with  meek  and  subdued  resig- 
nation, to  kiss  the  rod,  knowing  who  had  appointed 
it,  and  not  doubting  that  the  trial  would  "work 
the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness. "  She  was 
sensible  that  she  was  gradually  failing,  and  occa- 
sionally would  say,  "  Sometimes  I  long  to  begone ; 
but  I  check  the  desire  lest  the  reason  of  it  should 
be  because  I  want  to  get  rid  of  pain,  and  I  ought 
to  be  willing  to  live  and  suffer  just  as  long  as  my 
Heavenly  Father  sees  best." 

During  all  this  time,  whilst  others  were  admir- 
ing her  fortitude,  gentleness  and  faith,  she,  on  the 
contrary,  was  humbling  herself  ' '  under  the  mighty 
hand  of  God,"  and  writing  "  bitter  things"  against 
herself.  She  felt  her  unworthiness,  and  was  con- 
vinced that  her  sharpest  trials  were  absolutely 
necessary. 

On  the  afternoon  of  May  10th,  1851,  a  slight 
hoarseness  became  apparent,  and  continued  to 
increase  till,  on  the  12th,  it  assumed  the  appear- 
ance of  influenza.  On  that  day,  Monday,  though 
she  could  scarcely  stand  alone,  she  sat  up  six 
hours,  and  knit,  till  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when, 
for  the  last  time,  she  rolled  up  her  work  as  neatly 
as  ever,  and  repaired  to  her  bed,  which  she  never 
was  able  to  leave  afterwards,  although  she  sub- 


MRS.    JANE   GREENLEAF.  133 

mitted  rather  reluctantly,  thinking  it  might  be 
"  too  great  seM- indulgence."  But  her  laborious 
breathing  and  increasing  weakness  gave  indication, 
to  her  friends,  that  the  conflict  was  soon  to  ter- 
minate. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th, 

"  In  age  and  feebleness  extreme," 

she  made  a  last  attempt  at  family  prayer,  and  re- 
peated audibly,  but  in  broken  accents,  the  Lord's 
prayer.  A  few  hours  after,  when  asked  by  her 
brother-in-law,  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  "  Have  you 
peace?"  she  said,  "  My  bodily  sufferings  are 
very  great ;  but  I  don't  doubt  the  Lord  will  take 
care  of  me."  Still  later  in  the  day,  with  closed 
eyes  and  clasped  hands,  she  evidently  joined  in 
prayer  with  her  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Yermilye,  al- 
though unable  to  speak  ;  and,  from  that  time,  she 
spoke  little,  although  her  mental  faculties  were 
clear  to  the  last.  But,  in  her  case,  the  testimony 
of  "  last  words  "  was  not  needed  to  prove  that  her 
hope  was  built  upon  the  "  Rock,  Christ."  Like 
Whitefield,  she  might  well  be  permitted  to  "  die 
silent ;  "  for  a  long  life  of  piety  has  indisputably 
proved  her  faith  sincere. 

During  the  succeeding  night,  she  slept  at  inter- 
vals, and  seemed  to  suffer  little.     Just  as  the 
12 


134  MEMOIR   OP 

morning  of  the  15th  dawned,  in  the  most  gentle 
manner,  she  "  fell  asleep  in  Jesus," 

41  All  her  sorrows  left  below, 
And  earth  exchanged  for  Heaven." 

There  were  three  instances  of  the  Divine  faith- 
fulness and  love  in  her  death.  It  had  long  been 
her  prayer  that  she  might  be  enabled  to  cancel  a 
small  debt,  and  a  few  days  before  her  decease,  she 
was  enabled  to  do  this,  by  one  of  those  Providen- 
tial interpositions  which  she  had  long  been  in  the 
habit  of  noticing.  "  Commit*  thy  way  unto  the 
Lord ;  trust  also  in  Him ;  and  He  shall  bring  it 
to  pass." 

She  had  always  an  instinctive  dread  of  dy- 
ing;  "the  pains,  the  groans,  the  dying  strife" 
she  feared  to  encounter.  But  so  gently  did  "  the 
king  of  terrors  "  approach,  that  she  had,  probably, 
passed  "  the  swellings  of  Jordan  "  before  she  was 
aware  that  she  had  entered  its  waters.  Her  ran- 
somed spirit,  it  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  was 
released,  and  had  become  enrolled  among  "the  just 
made  perfect,"  before  she  recognized  the  fatal 
verge.  The  King  long  seen  "through  the  lat- 
tice," she  had  beheld  "in  his  beauty,"  and  had 
received  the  welcome,  "  Come,  thou. blessed  of  my 
Father,"  before  she  knew  that  she  had  seen  "  the 
last  of  earth."  "  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  chil- 


MHS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  135 

dren,  so  the  Lord  piticth  them  that  fear  him.  For 
he  knoweth  our  frame ;  he  remembereth  that  we 
are  dust." 

It  was  a  Father's  love,  also,  which  released  her 
from  the  "  body  of  death, "  just  when  her  evi- 
dences and  graces  had  become  "  perfect  through 
suffering."  A  longer  stay  would  have  been  unut- 
terably agonizing,  since,  from  the  nature  of  her 
disease,  nothing  less  than  a  painful  death,  by  star- 
vation, could  have  been  expected. 

"  The  Lord  is  good  ;  the  Lord  is  kind  ; 
Great  is  his  grace,  his  mercy  sure  ; 
And  the  whole  race  ot  man  shall  find 
His  truth,  from  age  to  age,  endure." 

*  Her  age  was  eighty-seven  years  and  three  months. 
The  words,  which  God  himself  spake,  and  which 
his  own  finger  graved  upon  enduring  stone,  at 
Sinai,  for  a  memorial  unto  all  generations,  were 
fulfilled  in  her.  She  honored  her  father  and 
mother  with  a  reverence  and  submission,  not 
common  at  the  present  time,  and  her  "  days  were 
long." 

There  was  deep  sorrow  at  her  decease,  and  a 
large  concourse  attended  her  funeral  the  next  clay ; 
but  any  expressions  of  mourning  were  tempered, 
both  in  her  own  family  and  abroad,  by  the  feeling, 
which  all  the  circumstances  combined  to  produce, 


136  MEMOIR   OF 

that  it  was  well.  The  words  of  the  apocalyptic 
penman,  from  which  her  pastor  delivered  a  funeral 
discourse,  the  succeeding  Sabbath,  find  an  echo  in 
many  a  heart  beside  the  Christian's,  as  Balaam's 
burst  of  desire  may  show ;  "  Blessed  are  the  dead, 
which  die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth  ;  yea,  saith 
the  spirit,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them." 


MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF.         137 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"For  by  grace  are  ye  saved,  through  faith ;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God  ;  not  of  works,  lest  any  man 
should  boast."  — EPH.  ii.  8,  9. 

IN  the  preceding  pages  the  writer  has  endeav- 
ored to  avoid  anything,  which  might  appear  like 
eulogium  upon  her  mother.  She  has  sought  to 
embody  in  the  narrative,  as  far  as  her  ability  ex- 
tended, such  material  only  as  might  give  a  view 
of  her  religious  character,  with  a  desire  to  mag- 
nify the  goodness  and  grace  of  God,  as  they  were 
manifested  through  her,  if  haply  some  other  soul 
might  be  encouraged  to  trust  and  serve  him  as 
did  the  subject  of  this  Memoir.  No  attempt  has 
been  made,  for  the  purpose  of  elevating  her  virtues, 
"to  compare  her  with  others  known  to  the  churches. 
Why  should  such  attempts  ever  be  made  ?  God 
has  given  to  the  church  but  one  Pay  son,  one 
McCheyne,  one  Isabella  Graham,  one  Harriet 
Newell ;  and  none  in  the  wide  world  are  exactly 
fitted  to  wear  their  crowns.  But  each  Christian 
receives  a  crown,  according  to  the  "  diversity  of 
gifts"  and  the  measure  of  faithfulness.  "Who 
12* 


138 


MEMOIR    OP 


shall  be  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven, "  or 
is  most  entitled  to  the  praise  of  men,  is  a  question 
which  may  best  be  left  to  him  who  knows  all 
hearts.  The  memoirs  of  the  saints  are  not  eulo- 
gies, but  reservoirs,  out  of  which  believers  may 
draw  the  honey  of  grace,  and  be  edified  and  im- 
proved. 

In  this  chapter  the  object  is  simply  to  bring 
into  one  view  the  different  parts  of  Mrs.  Green- 
leaf's  Christian  character,  that  it  may  stand  be- 
fore the  reader  as  a  whole.  In  so  doing  we  must 
glance  at  her  principles,  her  graces,  and  the 
exercises,  or  means,  by  which  they  were  sustained. 
If,  then,  any  thing  has  appeared  to  the  reader 
admirable  in  her,  (and  even  the  irreligious  cer- 
tainly respected  her  in  life,)  let  not  the  truth  be 
wronged  in  the  first  place,  nor  our  fallen  nature 
too  highly  complimented  by  the  thought,  that  this 
eminent  goodness  flowed  from  a  mere  earthly 
source.  Had  the  whispered  unction  reached  her- 
self, however  pleasing  it  might  have  been  to  the 
ear  of  some  religious  Pharisee,  she  would  at  once 
have  exclaimed  with  Paul,  "  Less  than  the  least 
of  all  saints;  "  "  I  am  the  chief  of  sinners."  But 
had  she  been  made  to  see  that  in  many  things  she 
excelled  others,  she  would  have  exclaimed  with 
fervent  sincerity,  "  By  the  grace  of  God  I  am 
what  I  am."  What  is  known  of  her  youth  shows 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  139 

that  her  natural  qualities  were  indeed  such  as 
usually  conciliate  esteem.  Still  to  give  such  tone, 
and  refinement  and  direction  to  natural  excellen- 
cies to  make  them  what  they  became,  it  was  neces- 
sary that  the  enkindled  flame  of  holy  love,  the 
purifying  power  of  gospel  faith,  the  touch  of  true 
religion  should  be  produced. 

The  qualities  which  most  distinguished  her  were 
implanted  by  grace.  Humbly  sitting  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus,  she  had  learned  lessons  which  the  world 
can  never  teach,  and  had  imbibed  a  spirit  which 
unregenerate  man  can  never  know.  But  her  life 
of  faith  and  active  benevolence  was  not  only  the 
result  of  grace,  but  an  exemplification  of  the 
doctrines  of  grace.  These  were  her  principles. 
She  believed  them,  felt  them,  and  was  formed  by 
them.  The  views  of  truth  she  adopted  were 
those  usually  denominated  Calvinistic.  A  mem- 
ber for  nearly  fifty-two  years  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  she  gave  cordial  assent  to  its  con- 
fession of  faith,  and  took  for  her  standards  the 
works  which  the  denomination  most  value-;  first, 
the  Bible,  as  "the  only  rule  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice ; "  then  the  Catechism,  Willison,  Edwards, 
Davies,  and  others,  as  correct  expositors  of  its 
truth  and  spirit.  She  drank  at  the  fountain-head 
of  truth  and  righteousness,  and  loved  the  vital 
flow  of  every  gospel  stream. 


140  MEMOIR   OP 

In  tbc  maintenance  of  her  opinions  there  was 
nothing  disputatious.  Indeed,  her  mind  revolted 
from  every  thing  of  this  kind  ;  and  she  regarded 
the  confusions  and  conflicts,  which  such  a  temper 
has  engendered,  with  pain,  as  prejudicial  to  the 
interests  of  religion.  Bigoted  adherence  to  a 
mere  "  form  of  sound  words  "  was  no  character- 
istic of  her  religion.  Yet  those  sentiments 
which  experience,  reflection,  and  a  constant  inti- 
macy with  the  Bible,  had  impressed  upon  her  con- 
victions as  parts  of  the  "  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints,"  she  adhered  to  firmly.  Of  the  entire 
depravity  of  her  nature,  her  utter  unworthiness, 
she  was  fully  persuaded.  With  her  habits  of  close 
and  conscientious  self-scrutiny,  and  her  elevated 
views  of  the  spirituality  and  exceeding  breadth  of 
the  divine  law,  that  marvellous  "  discerner  of  the 
thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart,' '  no  argument 
was  needed  to  convince  her  that  "the  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God,  and  is  not  subject  to  his 
law."  She  felt  it.  . 

She  cordially  believed  in  the  necessity  of  re- 
generation by  the  special  influence  of  the  Spirit, 
and  her  sole  reliance  for  pardon  and  eternal  life 
was  the  atonement  of  Christ.  "  Confidence  in 
the  flesh,"  or  in  good  works,  she  utterly  re~ 
nounced.  That  great  "  article  of  a  standing  or 
falling  church,"  as  Luther  pronounced  it  to  be — of 


MRS.    JANE   GBEENLEAF.  141 

a  standing  or  falling  soul,  it  might  be  added  — 
"  the  just  shall  live  by  faith"  she  responded  to, 
and  adopted  from  the  heart.  To  the  sacrifice  on 
Calvary  she  turned,  as  the  only  source  of  peace ; 
on  this  tried  foundation,  the  cross,  did  she  build 
for  eternity. 

The  "  election  of  grace  "  was  to  her  a  precious 
and  most  encouraging  truth ;  since  it  gave  her 
assurance  that  if,  as^  she  believed,  she  had  been 
"  renewed  in  the  spirit  and  temper  of  her  mind/' 
howeverj  humble,  however  weak,  and  inefficient 
in  herself,  she  would  not  be  suffered  to  "fall 
away  unto  perdition."  "  Who  shall  separate  us 
fronvthe'  love  of  Grod,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus, 
our  Lord|? "  In  this,  and  this  alone,  she  saw 
security.  Does  this  doctrine  tend  to  presumption 
and  evil  ?  Let  her  life  of  laborious  diligence  in 
"  every  good  word  and  work  "  answer.  This  was 
the'system  of  principles  she  embraced ;  and  to  the 
power  of  such  truths  is  to  be  attributed,  next  to 
the  Spirit,  her  eminence  in  piety.  For  whence 
sprang  that  great  faith,  which  was  one  of  her 
characteristic  graces?  It  was  no  blind,  delusive 
persuasion,  but  rested  upon  reasonable  evidence, 
even  the  revelation  that  "  Grod  was  in  Christ, 
reconciling  the  world  unto  himself,  not  imputing 
their  trespasses  unto  them."  Whence  were  her 
humility,  her  meek  submissiveness,  her  confidence 


142  MEMOIR    OF 

in  God,  derived,  but  from  the  persuasion  of  entire 
unworthiness,  of  God's  absolute  sovereignty, 
power  and  grace  ?  It  was  the  intensity  with 
which  she  was  enabled  to  realize  the  conviction, 
that  "all  the  promises  of  God  in  Christ,  are  yea, 
and  in  him  amen,"  that  rendered  her  so  cheerful 
and  "  patient  in  tribulation." 

But  it  was  not  only  the  passive  graces,  so  to 
speak,  or  the  experimental,  for  which  she  was  dis- 
tinguished ;  but  she  abounded  in  works.  Always 
full  of  love  and  charity,  maintaining  a  conversa- 
tion at  once  serious,  devout,  humble  and  benefi- 
cent ;  she  made  the  service  of  God  and  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  good  of  others,  the  great 
business  of  life,  pursuing  it  with  earnestness  and 
diligence  to  the  end  of  her  days,  through  all  trial. 

Her  views  of  gospel  religion  were  too  clear  to 
allow  her  to  rest  satisfied  with  the  evidence  of 
frames  and  feelings.  A  piety  whose  only  out- 
ward evidence  was  profession,  which  was  merely 
speculative  and  dogmatic,  which  looked  no  farther 
than  self,  was  to  her  mind  but  doubtful,  at  the 
best.  She  compared  Scripture  with  Scripture, 
and  found  it  written  indeed,  that  "  by  grace  are 
we  saved  through  faith  ;"  but  also  that  "faith 
without  works  is  dead  ;  "  "  we  are  his  workman- 
ship, created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works, 
which  God  hath  before  ordained  that  we  should 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  143 

walk  in  them."  She  knew  that  "  man's  chief 
end  is  to  glorify  God,"  as  well  as  to  "  enjoy  him 
forever."  And  wherever  she  was  known,  it  was 
''told  for  a  memorial  of  her,"  that  she  "went 
about  doing  good;  "'"the  love  of  Christ  also 
constraining  her,  because  she  thus  judged  that  if 
one  died  for  all,  then  were  all  dead  :  and  that  he 
died  for  all,  that  they  which  live  should  not  hence- 
forth live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  which 
died  for  them,  and  rose  again." 

Were  Christians  of  a  kindred  spirit  more 
numerous,  what  results  would  follow  the  remark  of 
one,  that  "  her  life  was  the  most  convincing  proof 
of  the  reality  of  religion,  with  which  he  had  ever 
met,"  will  show.  The  evidence  of  such  charac- 
ters would  be  worth  a  host  of  arguments, 

"  To  prove  the  doctrine  all  divine." 

But  graces  like  hers  are  not  self-sustaining ; 
they  derive  their  strength  from  the  use  of  means. 
For  all  Christians  in  all  ages  these  means  are  the 
same;  and  wherever  they  have  been  faithfully 
employed,  the  like  results  have  followed.  It  is 
"  the  tree,  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that 
bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in  his  season  ;  his  leaf  also 
shall  not  wither." 

Is  a  Christian  eminent  in  pigty?     Assuredly 


144 


MEMOIR   OF 


"  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord ;  and  in  his 
law  doth  he  meditate  day  and  night. "  Mrs. 
Greenleaf  was  an  attentive  and  diligent  reader  of 
the  Bible.  That  blessed  volume  was  often  in  her 
hand,  as  well  as  regularly  perused,  and  thus  be- 
came deeply  graven  on  her  heart.  The  services 
of  the  sanctuary  she  never  omitted  when  able  to 
attend.  She  also  observed  and  improved  the 
providences  of  God,  and  found  of  a  truth,  that 
"  whoever  will  watch  Providence,  shall  never 
want  a  Providence  to  watch." 

But  it  was  especially  by  prayer  that  she  kept 
her  heart  in  tune.  In  the  secret  place  of  devo- 
tion she  trimmed  her  lamp,  and  by  the  living 
coal,  "from  God's  own  altar  brought,"  she  kept 
it  burning. 

She  loved  also  the  female  prayer  meeting,  and 
was  accustomed  to  join  with  the  Christian  friends 
who  visited  her,  in  prayer  for  themselves  and 
families.  This  was  always  a  delightful  and  profit- 
able exercise  to  her.  There  was  one  family  where 
for  years  she  never  made  a  social  visit,  without 
retiring  with  the  mother  for  prayer ;  and  in  that 
family,  a  numerous  circle  of  children  have  been 
hopefully  converted.  When  we  learn  such  facts, 
we  cease  to  wonder  that  her  character  was  so  sub- 
dued, her  conduct  so  unblameable,  her  example 


MRS.   JANE   GREENLEAF.  145 

so  impressive  in  the  world.  Graining  warmth  and 
vigor  in  the  closet,  and  from  the  Word  of  God, 
her  religion  extended  its  benign  and  transforming 
influence  to  every  duty,  and  over  every  relation. 
Reader,  if  you  would  reach  a  like  holy  pre-emi- 
nence, "go  thou,  and  do  likewise." 

13 


146  MEMOIR   OP 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed."— PROV.  x.  7. 

LEST  any  should  suppose  that  the  preceding 
delineation  of  character  has  been  in  any  respects 
dictated  solely  by  the  partiality  of  affection,  the 
following  letters  will  show  how  she  was  estimated 
by  others,  not  connected  with  her  by  any  natural 
ties. 

The  following  was  written  to  her  about  ten  days 
before  her  decease,  by  Mr.  G.  W.,  of  Washing- 
ton, (D.  C.) 

"  Washington,  May  4, 1851. 
"  To  MRS.  JANE  GREENLEAF. 

"MY   VENERABLE   AND    DEAR   FRIEND, 

"I  was  this  day  told  by  Col.  C.,  of  Maine,  of 
your  severe  trial,  and  the  hopelessness  of  relief 
this  side  the  grave.  I  heard  this  with  deep  sym- 
pathy. God  is  making  you  *  perfect  through  suf- 
fering,' by  all  these  great  afflictions,  and  prepar- 
ing you  for  the  glory  that  is  to  follow.  As  in  his 
earthly  temple,  those  stones  fitted  for  the  highest 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  147 

eminence,  were  cut  the  deepest,  so  in  the  prepara- 
ation  of  the  living  stone  destined  for  the  temple 
above. 

"  After  so  many  years'  service  in  doing  and 
suffering  the  will  of  God,  this  crowning  trial  of 
your  faith  and  patience  is  laid  upon  you,  for  the 
manifestation  of  his  grace  in  sustaining  you,  and 
making  you  a  pattern  of  all  long-suffering  '  to  the 
praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace.' 

"  This  cannot  seem  to  you,  as  it  is  not  intended  * 
by  me,  the  language  of  compliment.  You  are 
too  near  the  realities  of  heaven,  not  to  feel  that 
these  are,  and  must  be,  *  the  words  of  truth  and 
soberness.'  For  them  not  to  be  so  would  be  to 
doubt  the  goodness,  the  grace,  and  the  Word  of 
God. 

* '  I  beg  to  thank  you  for  every  remembrance  of 
me  in  your  prayers.  I  once  was  among  those  set 
down  on  your  list  for  Friday's  recollection.  I 
hope  I  have  not  been  forgotten  even  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  It  has  been  my  happiness  to  inherit 
the  prayers  of  a  holy  grandmother,  and  of  a 
precious  mother,  who  have  long  since  entered  into 
the  rest  which. remains  for  the  people  of  God.  Into 
that  assembly  of  the  just  made  perfect  you  are 
soon  to  enter,  to  go  no  more  out ;  to  take  your 
seat  at  your  Father's  table  in  mansions  prepared 
for  you,  and  to  be  welcomed  home  by  hundreds 


148  MEMOIR   OF 

who  have  shared  your  sympathy  and  been  saved 
by  your  prayers. 

"  May  God  our  Saviour  illustrate  his  grace  by 
your  abounding  consolations ! 

"  This  will  be  the  last  opportunity  I  expect  to 
have  of  expressing  to  you  my  most  true  and 
affectionate  respect  and  love.  Let  me  hope,  when 
this  is  read  to  you,  I  may  share  once  more  in  your 

C-ayers  for  my  daily  perseverance  in  the  faith  and 
ve  of  Christ. 

G.  W." 

The  succeeding  letters  from  which  extracts  are 
made,  were  addressed  to  the  compiler  after  her 
decease. 

From  Rev.  JR.   W.  F. 

"  Wobura,  June  11,  1851. 

"I  had  not  noticed  the  record  of  your  dear 
sainted  mother's  death  in  the  papers,  and  was 
ignorant  of  the  fact  until  I  learned  it  from  you. 
From  your  description  it  appears  that  her  suffer- 
ings during  the  last  months  of  her  life  were  very 
great.  This  is  one  of  the  mysteries  of  Provi- 
dence which  remains  to  be  solved  to  our  minds 
hereafter.  No  one  who  knew  your  departed 
mother  could  doubt  that  she  was  one  of  the  most 
beloved  of  God's  children,  and  most  ripe  for 
heaven.  She  was  such  an  one  as  we  should  have 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  149 

selected  to  follow  Enoch  and  Elijah,  by  a  gentle 
and  easy  translation  from  earth  to  heaven.  But 
Infinite  Wisdom  saw  sufficient  and  benevolent 
reasons  for  leading  her  by  a  rugged  path  down 
the  descent  to  the  dark  valley.  Yet  it  seems  that 
he  scattered  light  in  her  pathway,  and  verified  in 
her  experience  the  promise  first  made  to  Asher, 
but  doubtless  designed  to  be  of  universal  applica- 
tion to  his  people,  '  As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy 
strength  be.'  So  is  it  always  in  the  experience 
of  God's  true  children. 

"I  never  knew  a  woman  whom  I  so  deeply 
revered  as  a  saint  of  the  old  Puritan,  or  rather 
Apostolic,  stamp,  as  I  did  your  honored  mother. 
I  always  felt  when  in  her  presence  as  though  I 
was  treading  on  '  holy  ground,'  '  just  on  the  verge 
of  heaven.' 

"  Although  my  interviews  with  her  have  been 
'  few  and  far  between,'  and  I  have  been  prevented 
from  corresponding  with  her  as  frequently  as  I 
should  have  been  glad  to  do,  yet  I  have  rejoiced 
to  number  her  among  my  most  valued  friends,  and 
have  at  times  derived  great  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment from  the  assurance  she  repeatedly  gave  me, 
that  I  was  weekly  remembered  in  her  intercessions 
at  the  throne  of  grace." 

13* 


150  MEMOIR   OF 

From  Rev.  Dr.  P.,  of  New  Brunswick ,  (N.  J.) 

"  New  Brunswick,  June  12. 

"  We  feel  that  wo  can  say  with  unfaltering  as- 
surance, with  regard  to  your  excellent  and 
honored  mother,  '  she  is  at  home  with  the  Lord.' 

"  So  long,  so  bright,  so  consistent  a  manifesta- 
tion of  the  power  of  true  and  living  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus ;  so  various  a  trial  of  grace,  and  every 
change  bringing  out  some  new  and  beautiful  trait 
of  the  Christian  character,  inspires,  indeed,  a  con- 
fidence which  renders  death  an  occasion  of  thank- 
ful joy,  rather  than  of  sorrow  and  condolence. 
The  Lord  grant  us  all  (after  we  have  suffered 
awhile)  a  like  *  abundant  entrance  J  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven !  There  we  shall  recover  all  that 
we  have  had,  or  known,  or  loved  in  this  life,  that 
is  worth  recovering,  besides  unutterable  accessions 
of  new  holiness,  power,  and  happiness.  What  a 
hope !  What  a  Redeemer  and  Father,  whose 
*  abundant  mercy  hath  begotten  us  to  it ! ' ' 

From  Deacon  S.  T.,  of  Boston. 

"  Much  have  I  valued  the  prayers,  which  I 
have  been  assured  by  your  mother,  were  going  up 
from  her  hallowed  retirement,  for  myself  and  my 
family ;  and  it  remains  yet  to  be  seen  how  large  a 
share  of  the  spiritual  blessings  that  have  descended 
on  us  and  our  children,  have  come  to  us  as  the 


MRS.    JANE    GREENLEAF.  151 

result  of  her  repeated  and  constant  supplications. 
We  know  that  *  the  effectual,  fervent  prayer  of 
the  righteous  availeth  much,'  and  such,  I  trust 
and  believe,  were  hers.  But  now  her  prayers  are 
turned  into  praise  ;  and  our  loss  is  her  unspeak- 
able gain. 

"  And  0 !  how  much  cause  have  we  all  to  bless 
God  for  her  easy  and  sweet  release  from  her  frail 
and  shattered  tenement  of  clay.  This  is  what 
she  prayed  for ;  but  in  this,  perhaps  more  than  in 
any  thing  else,  her  faith  was  weak.  But  God  was 
better  to  her  than  her  fears.  He  withheld  dying 
grace  until  it  was  needed,  and  then  manifested 
himself  as  he  always  does,  a  covenant-keeping 
God.  When  his  people  are  called  to  pass  through 
the  waters,  he  is  with  them,  and  the  floods  shall 
not  overflow  them. 

"  I  have  pictured  out  in  my  own  mind  her  de- 
lightful feelings  when,  having  passed  so  easily  and 
unexpectedly  through  '  the  swellings  of  Jordan,' 
she  found  herself  standing  on  the  opposite  shore, 
and  in  full  view  of  the  celestial  city.  I  seem  to 
see  her  looking  back  with  surprise,  and  exclaim- 
ing, *  0 !  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  0  !  grave, 
where  is  thy  victory  ?  '  and  then,  turning  to  her 
present  Saviour,  adding,  '  Thanks  be  unto  God, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ! '  " 


APPENDIX.     NO.  I. 


"  The  seasons  as  they  fly 
Snatch  from  us  in  their  course,  year  after  year, 

Some  sweet  connection,  some  endearing  tie. 
The  parent,  ever  honored,  ever  dear, 

Claims  from  the  filial  heart  the  pious  sigh ; 
A  brother's  urn  demands  a  sister's  tear, 

And  gentle  sorrows  gush  from  friendship's  eye. 
To-day  we  frolic  in  the  rosy  bloom 
Of  jocund  youth ; — to-morrow  knells  us  to  the  tomb." 

AT  the  time  of  the  decease  of  the  subject  of 
the  preceding  Memoir,  her  two  children  were 
living,  although  several  hundred  miles  separated 
them.  The  son,  Rev.  William  Coombs  Green- 
leaf,  was  then  a  resident  of  Springfield,  (Illinois.) 
On  receiving  the  intelligence  of  his  mother's  death, 
he  wrote  thus,  under  date  of  May  26,  1851 :  — 

"  It  is  natural  that  we  should  mourn  the  loss  of 
a  mother,  so  affectionate  and  faithful  as  she  was ; 
but  when  we  consider  that  she  had  arrived  at  a 
very  great  age,  and  that  her  various  diseases  and 

153 


154  APPENDIX. 

infirmities  had  for  sometime  closed  up  most  of  the 
sources  and  means  of  enjoyment,  and  that  she  was 
as  ready  for  her  departure  as  she  ever  could  be, 
we  have  more  reason  for  joy  than  for  sorrow. 

"I  hope  we  shall  all  feel  devoutly  thankful 
that  her  dissolution  was  attended  with  so  much 
less  suffering  than  we  had  been  led  to  fear. 

"  Since  you  informed  me  of  the  nature  of  the 
disease  on  her  tongue,  I  have  been  oppessed  with 
a  heavy  burden  of  anxiety  on  her  behalf ;  but  a 
few  nights  ago,  I  was  enabled  to  submit  her  case 
to  him  who  does  all  things  well,  in  the  confidence 
that  he  would  not  inflict  on  her  any  pain,  which 
would  not  be  necessary  for  his  glory  and  her 
good.  I  join  with  you  in  the  prayer  that  we  may 
be  enabled  to  follow  her  even  as  she  followed 
Christ." 

Under  date  of  June  1,  he  writes :  — 

"We  were  anxious  to  hear  the  particulars  of 
the  burial  of  our  beloved  mother ;  and  now  enjoy 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  her  mortal  re- 
mains were  committed  to  the  dust  in  the  presence 
and  with  the  sympathy  of  those  who  had  witnessed 
the  purity  and  active  benevolence  of  her  life. 
That  the  immortal  part  has  made  its  final  escape 
from  suffering  and  sin,  can  admit  of  no  shadow  of 
doubt. 


APPENDIX.  155 

"  The  more  I  reflect  on  the  subject,  the  more 
fully  am  I  convinced  that  her  final  exit  was  at- 
tended with  far  less  acute  suffering  than  could 
have  been  expected. 

"  We  have  lost  one  of  the  best  of  mothers. 
Indeed,  I  think  it  very  uncommon  for  one  so 
kind  and  indulgent,  to  be  at  the  same  time  so 
faithful  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  her  children. 
Much  as  she  ^oved  us,  you  know  she  never  would 
allow  us  to  do  any  thing  which  would  expose  our 
spiritual  interests  to  danger." 

Another  letter,  dated  June  29,  followed,  in 
which  he  spoke  of  himself  as  being  remarkably 
well,  though  very  fully  occupied.  The  next  let- 
ter received  from  Springfield,  was  from  the  pen  of 
a  friend,  stating  that  he  had  been  suddenly  re- 
moved from  time  to  eternity. 

On  the  morning  of  July  21st,  he  and  his  fam- 
ily arose  in  their  usual  health.  About  nine 
o'clock  he  was  seized  with  slight  indisposition, 
which  in  a  few  hours  proved  to  be  cholera,  that 
disease  having  appeared  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
three  days  previous.  When  the  symptoms  were 
decisive,  he  was  calm,  and  told  his  wife  "  he 
doubtless  had  the  cholera,  and  might  die  ;  but  he 
should  not  suffer  long,  and  had  no  wish  to  have  it 


156  APPENDIX. 

otherwise ;  all  was  well ;  he  had  no  anxiety  for 
the  future. "  After  this  he  sank  rapidly ;  his 
speech  failing  faster  than  his  strength.  About 
sunset  the  symptoms  of  cholera  seemed  to  be  sub- 
dued. Very  soon,  however,  a  violent  attack  of 
asthma  (to  which  he  was  subject)  came  on,  with 
which  he  struggled  until  a  quarter  past  eleven 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  he  was  released  from  his 
sufferings;  and,  we  trust,  was  received  into  "  the 
everlasting  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ."  He  survived  his  mother  less  than 
ten  weeks.  "  They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in 
their  lives ;  and  in  their  death  were  not  long 
divided." 

"  In  the  important  article  of  death,  the  privi- 
leges of  believers  appear  distinguishing  .indeed. 
To  human  nature,  unassisted  by  grace,  death,  the 
awful  punishment  of  sin,  is  the  f  king  of  terrors.' 
Bitter  indeed,  and  insupportably  painful,  are  the 
thoughts  of  death  to  men  who  have  '  their  portion 
in  this  life/  and  '  are  at  ease  in  their  possessions.' 
How  enviable,  even  to  such,  is  the  calm  and 
serene  frame  of  a  dying  saint.  Here  the  monster 
seems  to  have  lost  its  sting,  having  left  it  in  the 
bleeding  body  of  Jesus.  Death  has  changed  its 
nature  and  its  name.  Call  it  no  more  death ;  it 
is  the  sweet  sleep  of  the  body,  deposited  in  its 


APPENDIX.  157 

earthly  bed,  under  the  eye  of  the  Kedeemer,  till 
the  morning  of  the  resurrection. "  * 

The  funeral  was  attended  the  next  morning  at 
nine  o'clock.  A  general  sensation  of  grief  was 
awakened  throughout  the  city  of  Springfield  at 
his  sudden  removal ;  and  his  bereaved  family, 
consisting  of  his  widow  and  two  children,  to  whom 
he  supplied  the  place  of  a  parent,  received  many 
expressions  of  sympathy  and  kindness.  He  was 
nearly  fifty-four  years  of  age. 

A  brief  notice  of  his  history,  for  the  last 
'twenty  years,  may  be  interesting  to  the  friends  of 
his  youth. 

Soon  after  completing  his  theological  studies  in 
Bangor,  in  September,  1831,  he  was  ordained  as 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Andover, 
Oxford  County,  (Maine ;)  where,  amidst  many 
discouragements  and  hardships,  he  remained  till 
the  spring  of  1837,  when,  for  several  reasons,  at 
his  own  request  he  was  honorably  dismissed  by  an 
ecclesiastical  council.  The  severity  and  length  of 
the  winter  in  that  cold  region  had  much  increased 
the  asthma,  to  which  he  was  constitutionally  pre- 
disposed. This  led  him  to  turn  his  attention  to 
the  West,  as  opening  a  wide  field  of  usefulness, 
and  possessing  a  climate  more  favorable  to  pul- 

*  Burder. 
14 


158  APPENDIX. 

monary  complaints.  Accordingly,  after  supplying 
the  church  in  Hooksett  (N.  H.)  for  a  few  weeks, 
he  commenced  his  journey  to  the  West  in  October. 
He  went  to  Auburn,  a  settlement  on  Sugar  Creek, 
Sangamon  County,  (Illinois,)  not  intending  to 
tarry  even  for  a  night ;  but  at  the  solicitation  of 
the  elders  of  the  church,  he  remained  for  a  year 
and  then  was  induced  to  take  up  his  abode  with 
the  people,  and  assume  the  oversight  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

In  the  second  year,  he  suffered  much  from  fever 
and  ague,  and  was  unable  to  preach  regularly ;' 
and  as  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  country 
have,  as  yet,  not  learned  the  important  duty  of 
sustaining  their  ministers,  he  endured  many  trials. 
But  he  had  counted  the  cost  before  he  went ;  and 
being  satisfied  that  his  health  would  have  failed 
wholly  had  Ke  remained  at  the  East  another 
winter,  he  was  "  ready  to  live  there,  or  to  die 
there,  just  as  his  Heavenly  Father  might  order ;  " 
and  even  in  the  darkest  hour,  he  had  no  wish  to 
return,  finding  an  ample  field  of  usefulness,  and 
willingly  cultivating  the  soil,  to  supply  his  people's 
"  lack  of  service." 

After  being  there  about  two  years,  during 
which  he  suffered  much  from  sickness,  disappoint- 
ment and  perplexity,  a  brighter  day  rose  upon 
him.  Health  returned,  and  with  it  came  a  de- 


APPENDIX.  159 

gree  of  vigor  and  energy  which  he  had  not  known 
before.  He  acquired  a  strength  of  voice,  and 
soundness  of  lungs,  which  enabled  him  to  preach 
with  ease  to  large  congregations  in  the  open  air. 
Every  alternate  Sabbath  he  preached  in  a  village 
six  miles  distant,  usually  going  and  returning  on 
foot. 

Nor  did  the  Master  whom  he  served  permit  him 
to  labor  in  vain.  In  a  moral  and  religious  point 
of  view,  the  people  to  whom  he  ministered  under- 
went a  great  change.  Though,  at  first,  he  was 
almost  the  only  advocate  of  temperance  in  that 
region,  in  a  few  years  there  was  comparatively 
very  little  intemperance  in  the  settlement.  The 
influences  of  the  Spirit  attended  the  preached 
word,  and  considerable  accessions  were  made  to 
the  church. 

In  1843,  he  received  a  commission  from  the 
Assembly's  Board  of  Missions,  and  one  hundred 
dollars  per  annum  for  a  few  years  after. 

He  found  the  standard  of  piety  at  the  West 
much  lower  than  at  the  East.  The  Sabbath  was 
not  properly  regarded,  even  by  professed  Christ- 
ians. He  labored  to  produce  correct  opinions  and 
practice  in  those  respects. 

The  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  very 
imperfectly  understood,  there  being  more  reliance 
on  mere  excitement,  than  on  soundness  in  the 


160  .UTEXDIX. 

faith,  and  a  corresponding  practice.  A  "big 
meeting"  once  or  twice  a  year,  was  thought  by 
many  to  answer  every  purpose;  and  the  remainder 
of  the  time  they  would  hear  Campbollites,  .Mor- 
mons, Universalists,  or  whom  they  pleased. 
Against  these  things  he  set  his  face,  and  preached 
the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  which  he  de- 
fended and  illustrated.  Gradually  the  people 
became  more  regular  in  their  lives,  and  more  dis- 
criminating in  their  doctrinal  views;  and  many  of 
the  most  influential  citizens  labored  to  build  up 
the  good  cause  which  once  they  opposed. 

From  the  first  he  endeavored  to  cultivate 
friendly  relations  with  other  evangelical  denomina- 
tions ;  and  as  the  result  he  had  their  cordial 
friendship. 

There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  books  in  that 
region.  He  could  not  find  a  single  copy  of  Bun- 
yan's  "Pilgrim's  Progress"  when  he  first  went 
there.  This  defect  was  supplied  by  friends  at  the 
East,  who  sent  books  and  tracts  for  general  distri- 
bution, which  were  anxiously  sought,  attentively 
read,  and  carefully  preserved.  A  library  was 
sent  from  the  Sabbath  School  connected  with  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport,  which 
was  distributed  among  three  Sabbath  Schools  in 
that  vicinity. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845  he  removed  to  Chat- 


APPENDIX.  161 

ham,  five  miles  north  of  Auburn,  on  the  same 
road,  and  in  the  same  county.  He  did  not,  how- 
ever, at  first  supply  the  pulpit  there,  although  a 
majority  of  the  church  wished  it.  A  division  in 
it,  on  the  subject  of  abolition,  he  thought  would 
effectually  destroy  his  peace,  and  hinder  his  use- 
fulness. But  he  continued  to  labor  in  destitute 
churches  and  settlements,  where  he  was  always 
well  received. 

After  a  time,  the  church  in  Chatham  becoming 
more  united,  he  ministered  to  them  regularly.  In 
the  autumn  of  1846  there  was  a  revival  of  re- 
ligion ;  but  not  so  extensive,  nor  so  long  con- 
tinued, as  he  hoped  it  would  be.  The  enemy 
came  in  disguise,  "  and  sowed  tares."  The  peo- 
ple, however,  continued  very  attentive  to  the  word 
preached.  Their  ability  to  sustain  the  institutions 
of  religion  increased  from  year  to  year ;  but  their 
liberality  did  not  keep  pace  with  it. 

Most  of  them  were  frontier  men,  who  had  never 
lived  long  in  a  place,  and,  therefore,  had  never 
been  very  strongly  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  sustaining  either  religious  or  educational  insti- 
tutions. 

In  the  summer  of  1848,  the  time  for  which  he 
had  engaged  to  supply  the    pulpit   of   Chatham 
expired ;  and  although  both  the  church  and  con- 
gregation expressed  a  desire  that  he  should  con- 
14* 


162  APPENDIX. 

tinue  to  minister  to  them,  ho  declined,  the  asthma 
having  gained  so  fast  upon  him  that  he  could  only 
preach  with  utmost  difficulty.  A  visit  to  New 
England  in  the  autumn  accelerated  the  progress  of 
the  disease,  so  that  he  was  obliged  on  his  return 
to  relinquish  preaching  altogether,  and  devote 
himself  to  agriculture  for  a  subsistence.  For  this 

o 

purpose  he  removed  to  the  suburbs  of  Springfield, 
and  superintended  a  large  nursery  and  garden 
which  belonged  to  a  capitalist  in  the  city.  He 
attended  church  in  Springfield  regularly,  with  his 
family,  worshipping  in  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dodge  ;  and 
endeavored  to  show  to  whose  kingdom  he  belonged 
by  conducting  his  extensive  secular  business  on 
Christian  principles,  and  by  a  strict  observance  of 
the  Sabbath. 

To  surviving  friends  it  is  comforting  to  learn 
that  he  was  enabled  by  Divine  grace  to  maintain 
an  exemplary  Christian  deportment,  and  to  leave 
behind  him  an  evidence  that  he  was  truly  "a 
good  man." 

In  many  natural  traits  he  resembled  his 
mother ;  and  in  some  of  the  Christian  character- 
istics, there  was  a  close  affinity.  He  possessed 
untiring  industry,  indomitable  perseverance,  great 
enterprize  and  energy.  He  endured  trials  cheer- 
fully ;  his  trust  in  God  in  seasons  of  discourage- 


APPENDIX.  163 

ment,  was  unwavering.  He  seemed  to  live  in 
death,  and  in  constant  preparation  for  sudden 
death,  which  he  considered  desirable. 

The  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
(0.  S.)  he  firmly  believed  and  preached.  On 
the  atonement  of  Christ,  he  placed  all  his  hopes 
of  salvation.  It  was  on  this  "  rock  of  ages  " 
that  he  was  enabled  quietly  to  rest,  when,  sud- 
denly, he  found  himself  breasting  the  billows  of 
death.  The  believer's  "life  begins  with  the 
knowledge  of  Christ,  and  ends  by  dying  in  him, 
and  eternally  enjoying  him.  And  all  through 
life  he  looks  to  and  lives  upon  Christ.  Blessed 
beginning  !  comfortable  living!  joyful  dying  !  " 


The  two  following  letters,  from  which  extracts 
are  made,  were  written  after  Mr.  Gr.'s  death  :  — 

From  Deacon  W.  D.,  of  Lowell. 

"  Lowell,  Aug.  26,  1851. 

"It  is  with  mingled  emotions  of  pain  and 
pleasure,  that  I  read  yours  of  the  8th  inst.,  which 
announced  to  me  the  death  of  your  beloved 
brother,  and  my  friend,  Rev.  W.  C.  Grcenleaf. 
I  thank  you  for  particulars  of  his  death,  and  for 
giving  information  respecting  your  mother's, 
which  we  had  noticed  in  the  papers.  It  gives  us 


164  APPENDIX. 

pnin   to   learn  this,   because  the  cause  of  Christ 
has  lost  the  labors  of  two  of  his  faithful  servants  ; 
and  many  friends  have  lost  the  affectionate  and 
sympathizing  instruction  and  fervent   prayers   of 
'  a  mother  in  Israel,'  and  of  '  a  watchman  on  the 
of  Zion.'       It  gives  us  pleasure,  because 
there  remains  such    pleasing  evidence  that  both 
have  gone  in  such  quick  succession,  to  unite    in 
praising  redeeming  love   for  ever  and  ever;    to 
that  'rest  that  remaincth  for  the  people  of  God.' 
"  You  were  right  in  saying,   I  always  took  a 
deep  interest  in  your  brother.     Falling  in  with 
him,  as  I  did  in    1823,  as  we  boarded  together, 
before  Mrs.  D.  came  to  Lowell,  I  used  to  spend 
my  leisure  moments  with  him,  in  religious  conver- 
sation ;  and  we  often  walked  out  together,  that  we 
might  more  fully  express  our  views  on  religion. 
But  he  soon  left  this  place,  and  I  heard  no  more 
of  him  until  August,    1826,  when  I  very  unex- 
pectedly received  a  letter  from  him,  stating  his 
then    present   views   on   that   point.       He    said, 
(though  I  had  forgotten  it,)  that  when  we  parted 
in  Lowell  in  1823,  I  expressed  confidence  that  he 
would  become  a  Christian,  and  made  him  promise 
that  if  he  should,  he  would  write  me  ;  and  he 
then    wrote  that   he    *  verily   believed.  God   had 
brought  him  out  of   nature's   darkness   into   his 
marvellous  light,'  and  gave  some  particulars  of 


APPENDIX.  165 

his  conversion.  This  was  a  great  encouragement 
to  me,  and  did  much  to  strengthen  me  to  pray 
and  labor  for  other's  salvation,  in  that  great  re- 
vival, which  had  already  then  commenced  in  this 
place,  which  continued  for  more  than  six  years, 
when  such  multitudes  were  hopefully  born  into  the 
kingdom. 

"  I  regret  very  much  not  being  at  home  when 
your  brother  took  pains  to  call  on  me,  when  he 
was  going  to  the  West ;  but  he  is  gone,  and  I  am 
spared. 

"And  your  mother's  prayers  we  have  done 
with.  She  told  me  once,  she  had  a  list  of  names 
she  always  prayed  for  on  certain  days,  weekly ; 
each  individual  separately.  Have  you  that  list  ? 
Do  preserve  it.  It  must  be  a  sacred  piece  of 
paper.  And  then  I  shall  have  no  more  of  her 
good  letters.  The  last  one  she  wrote  was  in  such 
a  hand  that  I  could  scarcely  read  it ;  but  I  know 
it  was  good,  every  word  of  it." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  Proud  fit. 

"  New  Brunswick,  Sept.  10,  1851. 
"  You  cannot  doubt  that  both  the  dear  friends 
for  whom  you  mourn,  are  with  their  Redeemer, 
and  with  one  another.  They  have  entered  into 
rest.  Both  of  them  have  so  lived  as  not  only  to 
leave  with  their  friends  the  precious  and  consoling 


166  APPENDIX. 

assurance  that  they  *  sleep  in  Jesus/  but  they 
have  left  behind  them,  scattered  far  and  wide,  the 
seed  which  they  have  '  sown  unto  the  Spirit,' 
and  which  will  yield  a  glorious  harvest  at  '  the 
end  of  the  world.'  The  departure  of  a  Christ- 
ian to  glory  cannot,  I  think,  at  any  moment,  be 
called  mysterious,  when  we  look  at  it  in  connect- 
ion with  our  Redeemer's  words,  John  xvii.  24. 
Christ  desires  to  have  his  own  '  with  him  where 
he  is,'  and  will  not  endure  a  longer  separation 
from  them  than  is  necessary  to  accomplish  the 
ends  of  their  own  sanctification  and  the  extension 
of  his  kingdom  on  earth.  For  these  ends  alono 
he  permits  them  to  remain  here,  where  they  are 
separated,  in  one  sense,  at  least,  from  himself, 
and  have  so  much  to  struggle  with,  both  of  sin 
and  suffering.  Blessed  bo  his  name  for  that  word, 
addressed  to  his  whole  church,  *  Behold,  I  come 
quickly  /  '  0  !  that  every  heart  that  loves  him 
may  be  so  weary  of  this  world,  and  so  impatient 
for  heaven,  as  to  respond,  '  Even  so,  come,  Lord 
Jesus/7' 


APPENDIX.  1G7 

THE  DEATH   OF  THE   RIGHTEOUS. 

BY   MONTGOMERY. 

"  This  place  is  holy  ground  ; 

World,  with  thy  cares,  away ; 
Silence  and  darkness  reign  around, 

But  lo !  the  break  of  day : 
What  bright  and  sudden  dawn  appears, 
To  shine  upon  this  scene  of  tears  ? 

"  'Tis  not  the  morning  light, 

That  wakes  the  lark  to  sing; 
'Tis  not  the  meteor  of  the  night, 

Nor  track  of  angel's  wing : 
It  is  an  uncreated  beam, 
Like  that  which  shone  on  Jacob's  dream. 

"  Eternity  and  time 

Met,  for  a  moment,  here ; 
From  earth  to  heaven,  a  scale  sublime 

Rested  on  either  sphere, 
Whose  steps  a  saintly  figure  trod, 
By  death's  cold  hand  led  home  to  God. 

"  He  landed  in  our  view, 

'Midst  flaming  hosts  above ; 
Whose  ranks  stood  silent,  while  he  drew 

Night  to  the  throne  of  love, 
And  meekly  took  the  lowest  seat, 
Yet  nearest  his  Redeemer's  feet. 

"  Thrilled  with  ecstatic  awe, 
Entranced  our  spirits  fell, 
And  saw  —  yet  wist  not  what  they  saw ; 

And  heard  — no  tongue  can  tell 
What  sounds  the  ear  of  rapture  caught, 
What  glory  filled  the  eye  of  thought. 


168  APPENDIX. 

"  Thus  far  above  the  pole, 

On  wings  of  mountain  fire, 
Faitli  may  pursue  the  enfranchised  soul; 

But  soon  her  pinions  tire  ; 
It  is  not  given  to  mortal  man 
Eternal  mysteries  to  scan. 

"  Behold  the  bed  of  death, 

Tliis  pale  and  lovely  clay; 
Heard  ye  the  sob  of  parting  breath  V 

Marked  ye  the  eyes*  last  ray  ? 
No :  — life  so  sweetly  ceased  to  &e, 
It  lapsed  in  immortality. 

"  Bury  the  dead  ;  —  weep 
In  stillness  o'er  the  loss  ; 
Bury  the  dead  ;  in  Christ  they  sleep, 

Who  bore  on  earth  his  cross ; 
And  from  the  grave  their  dust  shall  rise, 
In  his  own  image  to  the  skies." 


HEAVEN  BRIGHTER  THAN  EARTH. 

*  O,  make  Heaven  seem  brighter  than  this  earth." 

Dying  words  of  Riv,  J\I.  Buren. 

"  Those  skies  no  night  that  wear, 

Nor  cloud,  nor  tempest  know, 
Those  skies  no  blight  that  bear, 

Those  streams  that  stainless  flow, 
Are  they  not  brighter  far 

Than  all  that  lure  us  here  ? 
Where  storms  may  fright  each  lingering  star, 

From  midnight's  lonely  sphere  ? 


APPENDIX.  169 

"  Here  hope  of  sorrow  drinks, 

Here  beauty  yields  to  care, 
And  virtue  from  temptation  shrinks, 

And  folly  finds  despair; 
But  'mid  that  world  above 

No  baleful  step  may  stray, 
The  white-winged  seraph's  glance  of  love 

Would  drive  each  ill  away. 

"  Friendship  is  there  the  guest 

Of  chilling  doubt  no  more, 
And  love  with  thornless  breast, 

Whose  pains  and  fears  are  o'er ; 
There  is  no  farewell  sigh 

Throughout  that  heavenly  clime, 
No  moaning  voice,  no  severed  tie, 

Or  change  of  hoary  time. 

"  Why  plant  the  cypress  near 

The  pillow  of  the  just? 
Why  dew  with  murmuring  tear 

Their  calm  and  sacred  dust  ? 
Rear  there  the  rose's  pride, 

Bid  the  young  myrtle  bloom, 
Fit  emblems  of  their  joys,  who  bide 

Beyond  the  insatiate  tomb. 

"  'Mid  that  celestial  place, 

Our  thoughts  would  soaring  glow, 
E'en  while  we  run  the  pilgrim  race 

Of  weariness  and  woe, 
For  who  would  shrink  from  death, 

With  brief  and  icy  hand, 
Or  heed  the  pang  of  shortening  breath, 

To  win  that  glorious  land  ?  n 

15 


APPENDIX.    NO.  II. 


THE  "Isles  of  Shoals, "  seven  in  number,  are 
situated  partly  in  New  Hampshire  and  partly  in 
Maine.  They  were  discovered  in  1614,  by  the 
celebrated  Capt.  John  Smith,  so  well  known  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  Virginia.  He  gave 
to  them  his  own  name.  Why  and  when  they  re- 
ceived their  present  appellation  is  not  known. 

They  are  a  mass  of  rocks,  covered  with  a  thin 
soil,  capable  of  supporting,  in  summer,  a  few 
cows  and  sheep.  Tradition  tells  us  that  a  woman, 
who  died  there  in  1795,  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years,  kept  two  cows,  and  cut  the  grass  for  their 
support,  from  between  the  rocks,  with  a  knife. 
On  two  of  the  Islands  are  found  whortleberries, 
choke  plums,  and  cranberries.  Sometime  about 
1800  nearly  half  the  sward  on  Star  Island  was 
cut,  dried,  and  burnt  for  fuel. 

Soon  after  their  discovery  they  became  the  per- 
manent abode  of  quite  a  large  population,  their 
170 


APPENDIX.  171 

sole  business  being  fishing.  For  more  than  a  cen- 
tury previous  to  the  Kevolutionary  War  there  were 
from  300  to  GOO  inhabitants  on  all  the  Islands. 

Star  Island,  which  is  the  largest  of  the  group, 
was  an  incorporated  town,  first  named  Appledore, 
and  afterwards  Gosport.  The  usual  municipal 
officers  were  chosen,  and  the  town  records  regu- 
larly kept. 

At  one  period  they  were  so  prosperous  that 
gentlemen  sent  their  sons  there  from  the  sea-coast 
to  receive  literary  instruction. 

Before  the  War,  Mr.  Haley,  the  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  Islands,  had  erected  a  sea-wall  to 
protect  the  only  harbor.  He  also  built  and  used 
a  wind-mill,  a  rope-walk,  270  feet  long,  and  a 
range  of  salt  works. 

In  former  years  they  caught  and  cured  from 
three  to  four  thousand  quintals  of -fish. 

The  first  settlers  felt  the  importance  of  estab- 
lishing the  worship  of  God  among  them.  Pre- 
vious to  1641  a  meeting-house  was  erected  on 
Hog  Island.  Kev.  Mr.  Hull  was  the  first  minis- 
ter. Rev.  John  Brock  the  second.  He  was 
ordained  in  1650,  removed  in  1662,  died  in 
Reading,  Mass.,  1688.  After  his  removal  Rev. 
Mr.  Belcher,  a  worthy  and  excellent  man,  preached 
there  some  time.  About  this  time,  probably 
through  fear  of  the  Indians  who  frequented  Hog 


172  APPENDIX. 

Island,  most  of  the  inhabitants  removed  to  Star 
Island.  Here,  a  new  meeting-house,  28  by  48 
feet,  was  built;  and  in  1706,  Mr.  Moody,  of 
Salisbury,  (Mass.)  was  invited  to  take  charge -of 
the  parish.  He  left  in  1730.  After  his  removal, 
the  Rev.  John  Tucke  was  ordained  there,  July 
26,  1732.  He  died  August  12th,  1773.  The 
following  is  the  inscription  on  the  monument 
erected  to  his  memory  :  — 

"  Underneath 

are 

tho  remains  of  tho 

Rev.  JOHN  TUCKE,  A.  M.  i 

He  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 

A.  D.  1723 ; 

was  ordained  here  July  26th,  1732, 

and  died  Aug.  12th,  1773. 

Aged  72. 

He  was  affable  and  polite  in  manners ; 

amiable  in  his  disposition  ; 
of   great    piety    and    integrity ; 

given  to  hospitality  ; 

diligent  and  faithful  in  his  pastoral  office; 
well  learned  in  History  and 

Geography, 
as  well  as  general  science ;  and  a 

useful  physician, 
both  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  his  people." 

The  salary  given  to  him  was  £110  per  annum, 
from  1754  to  1771.  It  was  paid  in  merchantable 
winter  fish,  a  quintal  to  a  man.  As  there  were 


APPENDIX.  173 

from  eighty  to  one  hundred  men  on  the  Island,  and 
each  quintal  was  worth  a  guinea,  the  salary  was  as 
liberal  as  usual,  at  that  time,  on  the  main  land. 
Besides  his  salary,  Mr.  Tucke  received  £50  towards 
a  house. 

Shortly  after  his  death,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Shaw 
preached  at  the  Shoals,  and  remained  there  till  the 
dispersion  of  the  inhabitants  in  1775.  Soon  after 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  ifc  was  found  that 
they  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  and  furnished 
them  with  recruits  and  supplies.  They  were, 
therefore,  ordered  by  Government  to  leave,  and 
most  of  them  obeyed.  Four  or  five  families  re- 
mained, who  were  among  the  most  degraded  of  the 
people,  ignorant  and  wretched.  Vice  now  took 
possession  of  the  Islands. 

In  1800,  there  were  one  hundred  and  twelve 
inhabitants  on  all  the  Islands.  On  Star  Island 
there  were  fifteen  families,  occupying  eleven  houses, 
most  of  which  are  described  as  being,  of  all  abodes 
of  human  beings,  the  most  loathsome.  The  people 
lost  the  ability,  and  by  degrees  the  disposition,  to 
support  schools  and  public  worship ;  the  laws  were 
disregarded ;  the  duties  of  officers  neglected  ;  the 
vices  of  drunkenness  and  quarrelling  prevailed. 

About  this  time,  Hori.  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  of 
Newburyport,  addressed  a  letter  to  Kev.  Dr.  Morss, 
of  Charlestown,  then  Secretary  of  the  "  Society  for 
15* 


174 


APPENDIX. 


propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and 
others  in  North  America,"  asking  aid  for  this  peo- 
ple. The  society  voted  8100.  Mr*  Joseph  Em- 
erson was  first  sent  there  as  a  minister.  Before 
funds  could  be  raised,  Mr.  Tyng  caused  a  meeting- 
house of  stone  to  bo  erected,  36  by  24  feet.  He 
employed  fourteen  men  and  four  boys  to  erect  it, 
and  they  completed  it  in  nine  days,  besides  repair- 
ing two  or  three  houses.  The  meeting-house  was 
finished  Oct.  29th,  1800,  and  dedicated  Nov.  14th. 
Rev.  Josiah  Stephens  soon  took  charge  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  died  there  July  2d,  1804.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  inscription  on  his  tombstone  :  — 

"  In  memory  of 

Rev.  JOSIAII  STEPHENS, 

a  faithful  instructor  of  youth, 

and  pious  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 

(supported  on  this  Island 

by  the  society  for 

propagating  the  gospel,) 

who   died   July    2nd,   1804. 

Aged  64  years. 

Likewise  of 
Mrs.  SUSANNA  STEPHENS, 

his  beloved  wife, 

who  died  December  10th,  1810. 

Aged  54  years." 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Stephens,  there  is  no 
record  of  any  teacher  or  minister,  till  1819,  when 


APPENDIX.  175 

Mr.  Caleb  Chase  was  employed  to  teach  school  for 
twelve  weeks.  In  1820,  Mr.  Brigham  (now 
Rev.  Dr.  Brigham,  of  N.  Y.,)  spent  a  few  weeks 
there  in  giving  instruction  to  the  people,  and  seve- 
ral others  succeeded  him.*  In  1822,  a  society  of 
gentlemen  was  formed  in  Newburyport  for  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  people  at  "  the  Shoals," 
to  which  a  society  of  ladies  was  auxiliary.  This 
society  supplied  a  teacher  there  for  about  nine 
years,  when,  having  incurred  a  debt  for  the  repair- 
ing of  the  meeting-house,  (the  interior  of  which 
was  accidentally  burned  in  1826,)  they  suspended 
their  operations  in  1831,  and  for  twenty  months 
this  people  were  without  any  teacher  or  minister. 
It  was  at  this  period,  1833,  that  Mrs.  Greenleaf 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  supplying  them  with 
instruction.  She  first  sent  them  a  female  teacher 
for  the  summer  and  autumn,  and  then  a  male 
teacher  for  the  other  seasons.  In  a  few  years,  Rev. 
Origen  Smith  was  stationed  there,  with  his  family, 
at  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars,  on  which  he 
lived  comfortably  for  several  years,  in  the  parson- 
age house,  which  was  erected  during  Mr.  Stephens' 
ministry.  But  his  health  failed,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  leave.  Others  have  since  taken  his 

*Most  of  this  information,  respecting  the  Shoals,  has  been 
obtained  from  several  articles  which  appeared  in  the  New- 
buryport Herald,  in  1841. 


176  APPENDIX. 

place.  "  The  Society  for  propagating  tbe  gospel " 
have  again  aided  this  people,  and  for  several  years 
past,  have  allowed  from  8150  to  S200  per  annum 
for  the  support  of  the  minister  there,  Rev.  Mr. 
Peabody,  of  Portsmouth,  and  a  society  of  ladies 
there,  have  also  been  active  and  persevering  in 
their  efforts  for  this  people.  Mrs.  G.  always  felt 
that  she  was  much  indebted  to  them  for  the  effi- 
cient aid  they  rendered  her  when  she  undertook  to 
sustain  a  school  and  the  ministry  there. 

Rev.  0.  D.  Eastman  is  now  stationed  at  Gosport. 
A  small  bell  has  been  given  by  Mr.  Ebcnezer 
S  ted  man,  of  Newburyport,  for  the  belfry  of  the 
meeting-house.  Their  surplus  revenue  they  em- 
ployed in  painting  the  inside  of  the  house,  and  it 
is  now  neat  and  comfortable.  A  school-house  has 
been  erected  within  a  few  years  ;  and  as  a  manifest 
improvement  has  been  made  within  thirty  years, 
the  hope  is  indulged  that  far  greater  progress  may 
yet  be  seen.* 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter,  from  a 
young  man  in  Gosport,  which  was  received  after 
the  preceding  Memoir  was  in  press  : 

11  Mr.  Eastman  will  commence  the  winter  school 
the  first  Monday  in  November.  He  is  a  very  good 
man  ;  spends  all  his  time  in  endeavoring  to  do  good. 
The  morals  of  the  people  have  greatly  improved 

*  The  present  number  of  inhabitants  is  about  120. 


177 


these  last  few  years.  But  it  should  be  with  grate- 
ful hearts  that  we  look  upon  benevolence  abroad, 
for  the  privilege  of  obtaining  mental  and  moral  im- 
provement. To  your  dear  departed  mother,  I  feel 
myself  to  be  much  indebted.  I  fear,  had  it  not 
been  for  her  kind  zeal,  ever  manifested  for  this  peo- 
ple, I  should,  to-day,  be  ignorant  of  what  little  I 
do  know.  The  Lord  reward  her. 

"  Yours,  very  respectfully, 

W.  C.  N." 


THE   END. 


14  DAY  USE 

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